MADRID — Jack Draper, the 23-year-old British firecracker, carved his name into the clay courts of the Madrid Open on May 2, 2025, with a gritty 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti. The win catapulted him into his first-ever clay court final, a milestone that’s got the tennis world buzzing. This wasn’t just a match; it was a masterclass in power and nerve, with Draper refusing to blink under the Spanish sun.
The first set was all Draper. He came out swinging, his forehand cracking like a whip as he broke Musetti early. The Italian, known for his silky one-handed backhand, couldn’t find his rhythm against Draper’s relentless baseline game. At 6-3, the set was wrapped up in under 40 minutes, with Draper’s serve humming and his focus razor-sharp. Musetti, ranked No. 18 in the world, looked rattled, his usual flair buried under a barrage of deep, heavy shots from the Brit.
Set two was a different beast. Musetti dug in, trading blows like a boxer who’d found his second wind. The crowd at the Manolo Santana Stadium leaned in, sensing a fight. Draper, unfazed, kept his foot on the gas, but Musetti’s crafty spins and angled volleys pushed the set to a tiebreak. That’s where Draper’s steel showed. He surged to a 7-4 tiebreak win, sealing the match with a booming ace that echoed through the arena. The Brit pumped his fist, a mix of relief and raw triumph, as Musetti shook his head, knowing he’d been outgunned.
Draper’s road to the final has been nothing short of electric. He hasn’t dropped a single set in Madrid, a feat that’s raised eyebrows among analysts. His semifinal clash marked his second Masters 1000 final, following a hard-fought run in Montreal last year. Now, he’s set to face Norway’s Casper Ruud on May 4, a clay-court specialist who’s no stranger to big stages. The matchup promises fireworks, with Draper’s aggressive style pitted against Ruud’s grinding precision.
This victory marks a high point for British tennis, with Draper becoming the first Brit to reach the Madrid final since Andy Murray in 2016. At No. 15 in the ATP rankings, he’s climbing fast, and this performance will likely nudge him closer to the top 10. Musetti, meanwhile, exits with his head high after a stellar tournament, his best showing in Madrid to date.
The final is slated for Sunday, with the tennis world watching to see if Draper can claim his first Masters 1000 title on the red dirt. For now, he’s soaking in the moment, a young player who’s proving he belongs among the elite.