Carlos Alcaraz gained revenge over Jack Draper to reach the semi-finals of the Italian Open in straight sets on Wednesday. 

Alcaraz, who was beaten by the Brit in their Indian Wells semi-final in March, battled to a 6-4 6-4 victory in an intriguing one-hour and 37-minute encounter. 

Having struggled at the start of his previous two matches, Alcaraz opened with confident holds of serve before Draper broke his resolve in the sixth game. 

Alcaraz, however, dusted himself down and reeled off the next four games to take the opening set, but he did have to save two break points before sealing the early advantage. 

The Spaniard seemed set for a quick win when he took his third break point out of three to win the first game of the second set, with a backhand volley winner.

But Draper responded by immediately breaking back and Alcaraz had to save two big break points in an arduous eighth game before drawing the second set level at 4-4.

Invigorated by the hold, Alcaraz then broke to love and converted his first match point, with a long rally ending with a forehand error from Draper, who sent the ball long. 

Carlitos in imperious form @carlosalcaraz continues his best ever run in the Eternal City as he sails into the last four!@InteBNLdItalia | #IBI25 pic.twitter.com/pcErjTvW21

— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 14, 2025

Earlier in the day, sixth seed Casper Ruud booked his place in the quarter-finals after comfortably beating Jaume Munar in straight sets. 

Ruud, who won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title earlier this month at the Madrid Open against Draper, emerged a 6-3 6-4 victor. 

The Norwegian has reached a fourth men's singles quarter-final at the Italian Open, equalling Mats Wilander for the most of any Scandinavian player in the Open Era. 

Data Debrief: Clay court Carlos impresses

Not only was his win over Draper keeping him on track for a second Masters 1000 title this season, but the win also moved Alcaraz up to second in the ATP rankings. 

With his Tour-leading 28th win of 2025, Alcaraz will face either Alexander Zverev or home hope Lorenzo Musetti for a place in the final. 

Alcaraz has reached an 11th ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, surpassing Jannik Sinner (10) for the outright-most of any player born since 2000.

Since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973, Alcaraz (65.6%) only trails Bjorn Borg (73.8%) for win rate against ATP top five opponents (minimum 10 matches).