Jack Draper becomes the first British since Andy Murray has repercussions in the top five after reaching the semi-finals of Madrid Open

When a Callow teenager named Jack Draper took the opening of Novak Djokovic in the central court of Wimbledon in 2021, we knew that the kid had talent.

But few people would have expected to flower so dramatically than less than four years later, he would jump the big Serb in the top five of the world.

However, it is reality after the Matteo Arnaldi 6-0, 6-0 years old, crushed 23 years to move to the semi-finals of the Madrid Open.

The defeat of the second round of Djokovic means that when the ranking will update on Monday, Draper will be the first British man when he started in the top five since Andy Murray in 2008.

“I feel stronger every time I play,” said draper in Sky Sports. “In the past two years, I felt against these guys that I would always be the one of the rear foot, always the one who defended. The next part of my game was to become stronger, to do the things I know that I can do and intimidate these guys.

Draper is in an area where you can see a spectacular improvement on a basis almost every week, and in Madrid, its forehand has reached a new level. Rafael Nadal’s gaming book on Clay was to hit the most free kicks as possible, striking the back of the right -hander, then, at the right time, tearing a winner on the line.

He crushed Matteo Arnaldi 6-0, 6-4 to become the first Briton to enter the first five since Andy Murray in 2008

He is now the best classified player in the competition, although Casper Ruud is always preferred

Draper makes comparisons with his left -wing compatriot and hero of childhood, but the way he destroyed Arnaldi in this first set – dropping only 10 points – recalled the Grand Spanish.

“If anything, I think I hit too many bullets right away from right -handers,” said Draper.

“Sometimes I don’t get on the right side and I think someone like Rafa would go much more in the reverse. This is an area that I will continue to try to improve. But my forehand does a lot of damage here.

Before the semi-finals on Friday, Draper awaits the winner of the Thursday evening match between the Canadian loser Lucky Gabriel Diallo and Lorenzo Musetti.

The Briton is the best classified player, although the favorite of the title is the Casper Ruud clay expert, who plays Francisco Cerundolo in the other semi.

Asked about the wide open nature of this draw, Draper’s response gave an overview of the state of mind that kept him so coherent this season: “ I go every time and I am afraid, ” he said.

“I think there is a chance that I can lose, but it helps me to compete as I do. This fear.

After Draper’s displays this week, we can be sure that, for the rest of the Clay court season, there will be at least as much fear on the other side of the net.