“My tennis has been pretty bang-average. The whole week, it’s been really poor, actually,” Jack Draper candidly admitted following his tough exit from the AO Open. However, that was not to be the end. The young Brit has stunningly flipped the script. Since that early-season setback, Draper soared to back-to-back finals in Qatar and Indian Wells, even clinching the title at the latter. Though he hit a dip in Miami and Monte Carlo, he has found his rhythm again on clay, storming into the Madrid Open SF with authority. In doing so, the 23-year-old has now achieved a feat that echoes the dominance of none other than the son of Red Clay, Rafael Nadal. A rising clay-court prince? Perhaps! But how, though?

A commanding 6-0, 6-4 victory over Matteo Arnaldi secured the 23-year-old British player’s place in the Madrid Open semifinals, representing a significant career milestone. The Brit, who captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells earlier this year, sealed the win in just one hour and 17 minutes, ending Arnaldi’s fairytale run that included a stunning upset over Serbian GOAT Novak Djoković. In doing so, Draper not only asserted his dominance on clay but also matched a remarkable record held by Spanish legend Rafael Nadal, further cementing his emergence as a force on the red dirt.

Jack Draper’s rise to tennis stardom reached a historic milestone after his QF victory over Matteo Arnaldi at the Madrid Open. Not long after his dominant win, the popular fan page “Olly Tennis” shared a powerful stat on X, writing: “👏 Left-handed players to reach the ATP’s Top 5 in the 21st Century: 🇪🇸 Rafael Nadal 🇬🇧 JACK DRAPER.” The feat places Draper in elite company, as he becomes only the 2nd left-hander this century to break into the ATP Top 5 since Nadal, who held the top ranking for 209 weeks in his legendary career.

Before Nadal, the last left-hander to climb this high was Chile’s Marcelo Rios, who reached the 2nd rank during the 1999 AO, holding that position from January 18 to January 25, 1999. Draper’s accomplishment not only sets him apart among his contemporaries but also aligns him with a unique lineage of left-handed greatness. Additionally, Draper joins an elite list of ‘British men’ to break into the ATP Top 5, following Greg Rusedski (1997), Tim Henman (1999), and Andy Murray (2008).

Beginning in 2025, ranked 15th, Draper has been on a sensational run this season, posting an impressive 18-4 record. His Madrid campaign has seen victories over Tallon Griekspoor, Matteo Berrettini, and Tommy Paul, signaling his rapid ascent.

“I feel stronger every time I play. Against these guys I used to feel like I would be the one on the back foot, the one defending, so the next part of my game was getting capable physically to do the things I know I can do and bully these guys. You see guys like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have no fear and so I just want to go after it, I suppose. My forehand is doing a lot of damage and I want to keep it up,” the Brit even added at the post-match press conference. 

And as Draper mirrors Rafa’s legacy, tennis legends are also praising the Brit, marking his arrival as a true center-court force.

“Will be a Grand Slam Champion,” Serena Williams’ ex-coach predicts the future Grand Slam champion within Jack Draper

In the past year, Jack Draper has significantly advanced his game, reliably exhibiting the substantial potential many anticipated early in his career. With 3 ATP Tour titles already under his belt and a breakthrough Grand Slam SF appearance at the 2024 US Open, Draper has cemented his place among the elite. Now ranked at a career-high 5th, the 23-year-old is eyeing even greater heights, driven by a hunger for continued growth and success.

One of the biggest factors behind Draper’s rise in 2025 has been his improved fitness, which has translated into more consistent and dynamic performances on the court. As he continues his development as a player, Rick Macci, Serena Williams’ former coach, anticipates Draper’s rise to greater prominence.

“Draper can order a lot of free lunches on his nasty lefty serve. He shows wicked athletic ability around the court and can stop/pop and darts to the net and delivers a delicate short angled Drop. The British Bomber will be a Grand Slam Champion,” the 70-year-old added in his X account. 

With momentum on his side and a 3-0 H2H lead over Lorenzo Musetti, Jack Draper enters the Madrid SF, brimming with confidence. Can the Brit turn that advantage into another breakthrough and book his spot in another clay-court final?