Tennis Draper's knocked out of Italian Open after Alcaraz wins tight match

BRITISH number one Jack Draper was knocked out of the Italian Open yesterday by Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.

- Press ASSOCIATION

Draper, 23, was beaten 6-4 6-4 as world number three Alcaraz battled valiantly to save break points at key moments while also taking his own chances when they came.

Draper, fifth in the ATP rankings, led 4-2 in the first set before Alcaraz fought back to take the lead.

Draper was eager to build on his run to the Madrid Open final last week, and he recovered in the second set and put Alcaraz's serve under pressure.

But he was unable to convert two break points and, after coming through a protracted eighth game to hold, reigning French Open champion Alcaraz ran with the momentum.

For Alcaraz, it is his first-time as a semi-finalist in Rome and he will play the winner of last night’s other quarter final between Italy's Lorenzo Musetti or Germany's Alexander Zverev in the last four.

Other quarter finals in the men’s singles today include Hubert Hurcacz of Poland against Tommy Paul of the United States and Italy's wolrd number one Jannik Sinner against Norway's Casper Rudd.