2. Well, it wasn’t to be for Jack Draper today – but what a tournament.
3. You feel a clay-court title won’t be too far on the horizon.
4. Could it be as soon as Rome? The Italian Open starts later this week.
5. Then it’s the big one… Roland Garros.
6. Whatever happens over the course of the rest of the European clay-court swing, there are exciting times for Jack Draper and British tennis.
7. See you soon!
10. Madrid Open runner-up Jack Draper: “Firstly, congratulations to Casper on this win, you really deserve it. You were braver than me in the key moments. Congratulations to you and your team for all the hard work.
11. “This loss hurts but I also want to thank my own team, my family for all of the support. And thank you for all the fans who come out here to support us, it means so much to all of us who love tennis and love playing in front of you.
12. “This sport is brutal but I will keep trying, I think this loss will make me better.”
15. Madrid Open champion Casper Ruud on his first Masters title: “It feels great, of course. It’s been a long time coming, this is a really big goal that I have dreamed about since I was so young.
16. “It was a great match, I knew that Jack has been playing so well all year, so I knew I had to bring my A+ game. Jack is an incredible player.
17. “I owe a lot of my success to my family, my coaches, my friends. I’m surrounded by amazing people, I’m a very lucky guy.”
19. Draper 5-7 6-3 4-6 Ruud
20. Let’s hear from the new Madrid champion…
22. Draper 5-7 6-3 4-6 Ruud
23. The pair show their mutual respect in a friendly hug at the net.
24. Both men know what the other put into that absorbing final. It was a cracker.
25. Jack Draper will be disappointed, of course.
26. But he will reflect positively on a clay-court tournament where few would have expected him to challenge for the title.
27. Draper has arrived on clay, people…
29. Draper 5-7 6-3 4-6 Ruud
30. He’s done it! What a final game from Casper Ruud!
31. Nerves? Nah.
32. Jack Draper misses out on his first clay-court title.
34. Draper 5-7 6-3 4-5 Ruud*
35. Sensational! Another forehand winner and it’s three championship points for Casper Ruud…
37. Draper 5-7 6-3 4-5 Ruud*
38. Almost a carbon copy… 30-0.
40. Draper 5-7 6-3 4-5 Ruud*
41. Perfect start. Ruud finds a first serve and sticks away a forehand winner. 15-0…
43. Draper 5-7 6-3 4-5 Ruud*
44. Here we go then.
45. Jack Draper must break here.
46. Casper Ruud serving for the title…
48. Draper 5-7 6-3 4-5 Ruud*
49. Jack Draper has to take care of his own business – and then hope Casper Ruud feels the pressure.
50. Draper does exactly that. An impressive hold-to-love is finished with a flowing forehand winner.
51. All on Ruud’s racquet now…
53. *Draper 5-7 6-3 3-5 Ruud
54. Back all square… in the game. 30-30.
55. Draper’s backhand swarms Ruud and forces a mistake from the baseline.
56. But the Briton can’t build on that as he pushes a return wide of the sideline. He can’t believe it’s wide.
57. Game point at 40-30 and Ruud completes the job.
58. Another very good hold. One more and he’s getting his hands on the Madrid Open title…
60. Draper 5-7 6-3 3-4 Ruud*
61. Casper Ruud, I’d say, looks the slightly sprightlier out there as we hit the business end of the deciding set.
62. He has clarity of mind to play a delicate dropshot which Draper reaches but is stretching too much to return.
63. That’s 30-0. Oh, then he produces another double fault…
65. Draper 5-7 6-3 3-4 Ruud*
66. So important that Jack Draper didn’t fall a double break down there.
67. It’s still a single break and you wouldn’t think it will be easy for Casper Ruud to serve out victory.
68. Remember, he’s never won a Masters title….
70. Draper 5-7 6-3 3-4 Ruud*
71. If Jack Draper is going to do this, it’ll have been the hard way.
72. Another break point goes the way of Ruud when the British number one puts another backhand into the tramlines, but he saves that and drags himself over the line.
74. *Draper 5-7 6-3 2-4 Ruud
75. Uh oh. A tired double fault by Draper isn’t how he wants to start this vital game.
76. But he recovers with a wonderful bit of play, lunging across court for a backhand which he whips back the other way.
77. Quality. Draper’s mood takes a turn again when he is docked a first serve for another time violation.
78. He’s so exasperated at Mohamed Lahyani. But Draper recovers to level at 30-30…
80. *Draper 5-7 6-3 2-4 Ruud
81. Well, this is the perfect way for the Norwegian world number 15 to start.
82. An imperious hold to 15 – helped by landing more first serves – ensures he backs up the break.
84. Draper 5-7 6-3 2-3 Ruud*
85. Momentum firmly with Ruud now. Am I convinced he will serve this out with no further twists and turns? Absolutely not.
87. Draper 5-7 6-3 2-3 Ruud*
88. The pressure finally tells on Draper.
89. On the second break point of the fifth game – and the fifth he has faced across the past two games – the Brit buckles.
90. The lefty drags a backhand wide and it puts Ruud ahead.
92. *Draper 5-7 6-3 2-2 Ruud
93. Saved! Draper is giving as good as he’s getting from Ruud in terms of fight and resilience.
94. But can he save a second break point… Draper is forced out wide by Ruud and slips as he changes direction back into the centre of the court.
95. Ooh, looks like his knee jarred. Fingers crossed it’s nothing too serious.
96. First he has another break point to defend…

Page 2

1. *Draper 5-7 6-3 2-2 Ruud
2. Over to Jack Draper then…
3. He makes a positive start to move 30-0 ahead on serve but finds himself pegged back to 30-30.
4. Ruud is refusing to buckle, just making Draper hit an extra ball so often.
5. He does the same again and Draper goes long… another break point for Ruud.
7. *Draper 5-7 6-3 2-2 Ruud
8. Not for the first time, Ruud finds a first serve when he really needs it. That saves the break point.
9. He might need that again as Draper has a second look at the break… and the Norwegian finds it again.
10. Incredible.
11. Ruud staggers over the line as Draper did in the previous game. Between them they have saved five break points in the past two games…
13. Draper 5-7 6-3 2-1 Ruud*
14. Stunner… and now a shocker.
15. Ruud has double faulted! That hands over a break point to Jack Draper, who saved three in the previous game…
17. Draper 5-7 6-3 2-1 Ruud*
18. Ruud isn’t afraid of mixing things up. He comes forward at 15-15 after a tricky pick-up but can’t direct a volley when the ball is smacked towards him at the net.
19. Half a chance for Draper at 15-30… but Ruud nails another forehand winner down the line for 30-30.
20. Stunner.
22. Draper 5-7 6-3 2-1 Ruud*
23. How much will that hold take out of Draper physically and mentally?
24. He looks pretty drained at the moment. At least he’s got a minute to sit down at the changeover and take on an energy gel.
25. We also know, as we said right at the start, Draper is a different beast these days.
26. This match is still hanging right in the balance.
28. Draper 5-7 6-3 2-1 Ruud*
29. Break point numero tres…
30. Ruud steps into the court but is beaten all ends up by Draper going down the middle.
31. We’ve ticked over the 10-minute mark in this game now… Draper is feeling it. He gets a time violation before seeing out an almighty hold.
32. That could be huge!
34. *Draper 5-7 6-3 1-1 Ruud
35. This is becoming a bit of an epic game – and one which could prove pivotal in the outcome of this match.
36. Draper saves the second break point but tees up another for Ruud when he blinks again with a forehand…
37. This is intense.
39. *Draper 5-7 6-3 1-1 Ruud
40. Make that a fourth deuce… Draper goes for broke as Ruud remains patient in a baseline rally and pushes a forehand wide.
41. Then Ruud’s forehand comes to town! He laces a winner to set up a second break point…
43. *Draper 5-7 6-3 1-1 Ruud
44. Draper keeps getting to advantage but can’t get over the line. A double fault – only his second of the match – pegs him back to a third deuce…
46. *Draper 5-7 6-3 1-1 Ruud
47. Hmmm I wonder if Draper is starting to lose a bit of energy. That backhand into the net indicated so, as does as his face.
48. He finds another wind to save the break point and moves back to deuce….
50. *Draper 5-7 6-3 1-1 Ruud
51. Oh wow. Ruud produces a crackerjack of a forehand, almost bending it around the net post for 0-15.
52. Ronaldo’s old pal Roberto Carlos would have been happy with that.
53. Ruud has a bit of momentum now, moving 15-30 in front before Draper pegs him back again with a neat volley at the net.
54. But Draper dumps a backhand into the net and it is break point….
56. *Draper 5-7 6-3 1-1 Ruud
57. After losing serve twice at the end of the second set, Ruud settles the ship with a hold to 15.
58. He needed that and it could help him stick his foot on the gas on Draper’s serve.
60. Draper 5-7 6-3 1-0 Ruud*
61. Before the match, I couldn’t call which way this match was going to go.
62. At the start of the deciding third set I still can’t.
63. So tight. Both players demonstrating the best of their ability.
64. Help me out… Draper? Thumbs up. Ruud. Thumbs down. Heads not hearts please.
66. Draper 5-7 6-3 1-0 Ruud*
67. Draper needs a fast start here and that could be enough to see off Ruud.
68. The British number one finds his first serve to keep his nose in front, but is dragged back to deuce when Ruud shows his speed to somehow reach a drop-shot.
69. However, Draper recovers to hold – sealed with a whopping crosscourt backhand winner.
70. Worried about Draper’s forehand? Don’t think you can target his backhand. He’s potent off both wings.
72. *Draper 5-7 6-3 0-0 Ruud
73. If last year was Draper’s coming of age – becoming British number one and reaching a Grand Slam semi- final – this year has been an impressive sophomore.
74. Here’s a reminder of what he has achieved…

• Battled through three successive five-setters to reach the Australian Open last 16
• Followed that by reaching the Doha final
• Lifted his first ATP Masters title at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament
• Cracked the world’s top 10 – and will move into the top five on Monday

1. Can Draper add a first clay-court title to the list today? It’s now a one-set shootout for the Madrid Open.
3. Draper 5-7 6-3 Ruud
4. Incredible turnaround from Draper. Letting loose with a verbal release at the end of the first set paid off.
5. A different Draper emerged from the one we saw at the end of the first set.
6. The British number one only hit one unforced error in the entire set. One!
7. That demonstrates how good his ball-striking – especially with that forehand – was.
9. Draper 5-7 6-3 Ruud
10. Now the pressure is really telling in Ruud. In the blink of an eye, we have three set points to Draper…
11. Ruud saves one with a thunderbolt of a winner, then swaps power for touch as a deft volley saves a second.
12. Third time lucky for Draper? It is!
14. Draper 5-7 5-3 Ruud*
15. The old combo comes out from Draper.
16. Not quite a left-right-goodnight, but a second serve out wide followed by the forehand down the line is as good as a knockout.
17. Draper holds and, like he was in the first set, is within one game of winning a set.
19. *Draper 5-7 4-3 Ruud
20. Quality stuff. Draper keeps his composure and plays smart points to save both break points.
21. He puffs out his cheeks. Back to deuce…
23. *Draper 5-7 4-3 Ruud
24. Just as he looks to have got back in the groove, Draper mistimes.
25. An overhead into the net tees up two break points for Ruud…

Page 3

1. *Draper 5-7 4-3 Ruud
2. Boom! Draper’s forehand has been powered by rocket fuel in Madrid – and he finds another howitzer at the perfect time.
3. The British number one mixes up his forehand game with a flatter crosscourt return which Ruud sends back but tees up the winner down the line.
5. Draper 5-7 3-3 Ruud*
6. Ooof! Ruud cracks a drive volley winner from the baseline for 15-30 but then Draper earns a break point when his opponent buckles in a baseline rally.
7. Two break points to Draper…
9. Draper 5-7 3-3 Ruud*
10. Draper whipping through his service games means it could add a touch of stress in Ruud’s mind.
11. Maybe it has. Ruud slaps a volley into the net and suddenly it’s 0-30. This could be a key moment…
13. Draper 5-7 3-3 Ruud*
14. No break points yet in this second set.
15. Jack Draper will hoping there won’t be one in this game – and there is little chance of that with serving like this.
16. Draper finds his serve and his forehand – both crucial weapons for the British number one – in another rapid hold-to-love.
18. *Draper 5-7 2-3 Ruud
19. Can Draper create more pressure here? He can’t.
20. Ruud resets once again and a clean forehand winner sticks his nose in front.
22. Draper 5-7 2-2 Ruud*
23. While Ruud’s first serve has been effective, he has still thrown in a few double faults – two helped Draper break early in the first set remember.
24. Another crops up to let Draper level at 15-15 before normal service is resumed and he moves 40-15 ahead.
25. Draper isn’t done yet, though. A deep backhand return leaves Ruud in a tangle as the ball clips the baseline… 40-30.
27. Draper 5-7 2-2 Ruud*
28. I tell you what, Draper could do with a quick service hold here.
29. He looks on course to do that, moving 40-0 ahead with a gorgeous drop-shot helping him on the way.
30. Ruud sticks in a roadblock with a crosscourt forehand winner, but is left stranded out wide when Draper pummels down an overhead for the game.
32. *Draper 5-7 1-2 Ruud
33. And here’s the evidence… Ruud has won 88% of first serve points. That’s 28 out of 32 so far.
35. *Draper 5-7 1-2 Ruud
36. You have to take your hat off to Casper Ruud.
37. No dramas, no stress… he just stays calm and finds his best game when he needs to.
38. That, at the moment, is revolving around his first serve and finding two more helps him get over the line for 2-1.
39. Big hold.
41. Draper 5-7 1-1 Ruud*
42. Pressure? What pressure?
43. Ruud slaps down an ace to move ahead and then is buoyed by landing another first serve… however, he plants a smash straight at Draper, who beats him all ends up with a backhand winner.
44. Back to deuce…
46. Draper 5-7 1-1 Ruud*
47. An early glimmer of hope for Draper at 15-30.
48. “Come on!” he yelps again.
49. Ruud, a human fire extinguisher, quickly quells the heat with some smart serving and accurate returning to move 40-30 ahead.
50. But then Draper steps onto the front foot and wallops a forehand which Ruud can only dump into the net.
51. Deuce….
53. Draper 5-7 1-1 Ruud*
54. Excellent from Jack Draper.
55. The annoyance at losing that first set has fired him up and he’s channelled the energy positively into a comfortable hold to love.
56. In fact, that’s his first hold to love of the match.
57. Good start to his hopes of levelling this final.
59. *Draper 5-7 0-1 Ruud
60. That’s exactly what Casper Ruud does. A very solid service game is swept up with an ace out wide.
61. Right, let’s see if Jack Draper has got that frustration out of his system…
63. Draper 5-7 0-0 Ruud*
64. All the momentum is with Casper Ruud now.
65. The world number 15 picks up the balls and looks to use the first service game of the second set to create some scoreboard pressure.
67. Draper 5-7 Ruud
68. Jack Draper is fuming. And I mean fuming.
69. We don’t see this very often from him – he combusts as he sits down, launching into some verbals towards his team.
70. Coach James Trotman can handle it, I’m sure. As can physio Shane Annun. He used to work for Andy Murray – who barked at his team like a irate security dog – after all.
71. They know he needs to unload his frustration in order to reset for the second set.
73. Draper 5-7 Ruud
74. Comeback complete!
75. An impressive turnaround from Casper Ruud.
76. Jack Draper is pushed back behind the baseline again and when he tries to come forward gets his feet in a mess.
77. Draper is tied in a knot, running around almost 360 degrees to hit a forehand – which he balloons into Row Z.
79. *Draper 5-6 Ruud
80. This is excellent from Casper Ruud.
81. He pins Draper back into the deuce side corner and springs forward to put away a volley the other way.
82. Set point. Ruud was 5-3 down remember…
84. *Draper 5-6 Ruud
85. “Come on!”
86. Draper urges more from himself after losing the first point of the 12th game.
87. That helps the Brit turn the game into his favour at 30-15, but then he can’t land another fizzing forehand down the line.
88. 30-30…
89. Image source, Getty
91. *Draper 5-6 Ruud
92. Draper is not as zen as he was at the last changeover.
93. He glugs some water and grimaces as he shakes his legs into action.
94. The British number one is looking to find some extra energy.
96. *Draper 5-6 Ruud
97. For the first time in the match, Draper’s level has dropped.
98. Another forehand from the baseline lacks conviction as Ruud goes 40-15 ahead, before the two-time Roland Garros runner-up finds his spot with a first serve down the middle to leave a stretching Draper wafting.
99. Ruud leads – for the first time today.

Page 4

1. Draper 5-5 Ruud*
2. Oh. I must issue a full and unreserved apology to all Jack Draper fans.
3. Just as I was enthusing about Draper’s service games, he is broken.
4. But that’s obviously all down to Casper Ruud.
5. The Norwegian has hung tough and seizes his chance by keeping Draper deep before seeing his opponent hit a return over the baseline.
7. *Draper 5-4 Ruud
8. Ah, Draper hitting a double fault for 30-30 indicates I may have jinxed him.
9. Sure that’s his first of the match.
10. Draper struggles to find his first serve and rolls in a second serve which allows Ruud to go on the attack.
11. Draper hooks a return wide and it is a break point to the Norwegian…
13. *Draper 5-4 Ruud
14. Over to Jack Draper then.
15. His service games have been comfortable so far. He’s not faced a break point.
16. (I apologise in advance to Draper fans if I’ve jinxed it now…)
18. *Draper 5-4 Ruud
19. Right then, Casper Ruud is serving to stay in the first set…
20. A double fault doesn’t help matters and enables Draper to level at 30-30.
21. But the former world number two resets and finds a first serve down the middle which Draper bats into the net, followed by another which also leads to the Brit doing the same.
23. Draper 5-3 Ruud*
24. Stefan Edberg nods in approval.
25. The Swede was, of course, one of the great serve and volleyers in his late 80s/early 90s pomp.
26. He’s also a Leeds United fan. No wonder he’s grinning.
28. Draper 5-3 Ruud*
29. Hmmm not sure there was too much clarity in Draper’s dropshot at 40-15.
30. He decides to go with it from deep and it floats way wide.
31. Can Ruud punish him? Nope. Draper shows the variety in his game, pulling out a serve and volley to secure another hold.
33. *Draper 4-3 Ruud
34. Not for the first time this week, we see Jack Draper close his eyes on his chair at the changeover.
35. No, he’s not having 40 winks. He’s finding calm and clarity with a meditation-style moment.
36. Draper has been working with a breathing coach in recent months to help him settle the nerves in big matches.
38. *Draper 4-3 Ruud
39. A timely reminder from Casper Ruud that he knows how to play clay-court tennis.
40. Just in case anyone had forgotten.
41. At 15-15, Ruud show tenacity at the baseline to stick in a point and is able to weave a winner past Draper when he comes forward.
42. That swings the pendulum back to Ruud, who goes on to hold.
44. Draper 4-2 Ruud*
45. Ruud might rue this one. At 0-30, he goes crosscourt from deep and finds the net with Draper looking rooted in the corner.
46. That encourages Draper, who shows his athleticism by sliding forward and putting away a volley for 30-30.
47. A first serve followed by another forehand winner sees Draper over the line.
49. *Draper 3-2 Ruud
50. It’s been a good start from Jack Draper. The feedback from his coach James Trotman, who we can hear every now and again from the box, has been positive.
51. Oh, now Draper is in a bit of trouble.
52. A wild return from the baseline gives Ruud a start before the Norwegian hammers away a winner when Draper goes to the net.
53. It’s 0-30 and half a chance…
55. *Draper 3-2 Ruud
56. Nothing is coming easy for Casper Ruud.
57. Even the composed Norwegian is looking a tad flustered at the moment.
58. He faces another test at 30-30 and is glad to see Draper wincing after going on the attack with a return.
59. On game point, Ruud goes down the middle with a first serve which hits the service line and forces Draper into the net.
61. Draper 3-1 Ruud*
62. Draper responds very well from 15-30.
63. A first serve out wide on the ad side allows the lefty to nail down the line when it returns, then he wins another quality rally before a backhand winner seals the deal.
64. Good hold from the Brit.
66. Draper 2-1 Ruud*
67. Another hold here will make the scoreboard look very nice for Draper.
68. A wild forehand is not the best start, though, before the Briton gets on the front foot in the first lengthy rally of the match and Ruud nets.
69. Ruud smacks away a winner for 15-30… bit pressure on Draper now.
71. *Draper 2-1 Ruud
72. Ooof! The pressure has told on Ruud – big time.
73. The former world number two coughs up back-to-back double faults from 30-30 and hands an early break over to Draper.
74. Wrap it up and stick on a bow. That game was a gift.
76. Draper 1-1 Ruud*
77. Draper’s forehand has brought more ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ from the Madrid crowd over the past 10 days than a fireworks display.
78. But Ruud has plenty of fizz in this shot too.
79. The Norwegian goes for one which dusts the dirt wide of the sideline and suddenly he’s under pressure at 30-30…
81. Draper 1-1 Ruud*
82. Draper’s serve has been spot on in Madrid and he’ll need to be at his best in this department today.
83. The Brit lands three of five first-serves, enabling him to hold from 15-15. He finishes with another trademark swat of that forehand.
85. *Draper 0-1 Ruud
86. Ronaldo! R9! Fenemeno!
87. The former Real Madrid and Brazil striker, often seen in these parts, is sat in the exclusive boxes reserved for celebs and VIPs behind the baseline.
89. *Draper 0-1 Ruud
90. Solid start from Ruud. Draper doesn’t find his rhythm in the opening exchanges.
91. He’s unable to get into the rallies on the Norwegian’s second serve and a few loose errors from the baseline leave him 40-0 down.
92. Then he revs up with a blistering forehand winner down the line. We’ve seen plenty of them over the past week or so in Madrid.
93. Draper gets it back to 40-30 before Ruud sticks away an overhead for the game.
95. Draper 0-0 Ruud*
96. Warm-up is done, final fiddles at the chair are over.
97. Let’s play!
98. Ruud, as you know, to serve first….
100. Draper v Ruud
101. Today’s match will be controlled by the familiar face – and voice – of Mohamed Lahyani.
102. The Swedish umpire conducts the electronic ball toss and Draper wins it.
103. “I’ll receive please,” the Briton politely informs his opponent and the official.

Page 5

1. Draper v Ruud
2. Tough one to call this.
3. Draper has been the better player over the fortnight.
4. Ruud has been the better clay-courter over his career.
5. What are you saying?
6. Hit the thumb up for Draper. The thumb down for Ruud.
8. Draper v Ruud
9. 
11. Draper v Ruud
12. Duh-duh-duh. Duh-duh-duh. The DJ presses play and the unmistakable intro of ‘Eye of the Tiger’ booms out.
13. Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed… sorry, Casper Ruud and Jack Draper line up in the Caja Magica tunnel.
14. Then it’s the turn of the MC – basically the Spanish Michael Buffer – to take centre stage.
15. He introduces the pair in his unmistakeable style – high volume, rolling Rs – to Court Manolo Santana.
17. Draper v Ruud
18. Jack Draper, meanwhile, has found a quiet spot in the warm-up area.
19. There, he sits on a weights bench and leans in close to coach James Trotman.
20. The pair look calm and clear-minded as they run through a few of the key messages which they want Draper to implement on court.
21. The two finalists will be walking out into the Madrid sun shortly…
23. Draper v Ruud
24. The atmosphere is bubbling nicely at the Caja Magica.
25. The punters are filing back in, with many having taken a breather after the women’s doubles finals.
26. The sun is out and the roof is wide open.
27. The volume on the PA system is turned up to the max. It’s that loud you can hear probably hear it in Barcelona.
29. Draper v Ruud
30. Casper Ruud certainly knows his way around a clay court.
31. The 26-year-old Norwegian has twice reached the French Open final, losing to Rafael Nadal in 2022 and Novak Djokovic in 2023 (no shame there).
32. His numbers on the ATP Tour are very impressive.
33. Since the start of the 2020 season, Ruud has chalked up the most clay-court wins (124), finals (17) and titles (11).
34. However, he has never won an ATP Masters title – on any surface.
36. Draper v Ruud
37. Image source, Getty Images
38. Jack Draper has breezed through the Madrid Open draw so far.
39. I say breezed, no match has been easy of course. But he hasn’t dropped a set yet.
40. Draper is a different beast these days. He plays with confidence, authority, swagger and has a fear factor about him now.
41. But will that be enough to win the Madrid title?
42. Draper has a tough opponent standing between him and a first ATP clay-court triumph…
44. Draper v Ruud
45. Hola! How are we all doing this sport-tastic Bank Holiday Sunday? You’ve made the right choice by choosing the tennis, I promise.
46. Jack Draper – a Brit! – is about to play in the Madrid Open final.
47. Yep, you heard it right.
48. The 23-year-old leftie is on a crest of a wave. After winning his first ATP Masters title at Indian Wells, the world number six is bidding for another less than two months later.
49. This time it would be on a clay court in the Spanish capital.
52. For so long there has been a regular complaint among British tennis fans.
53. Why are the British players (Andy Murray apart, of course) not able to have much success on clay?
54. The main reason is that the red dirt is not the natural surface for youngsters in this country, like it is for their Spanish, French, Czech or South American counterparts.
55. Success has been rare. Then again, Jack Draper is a rare talent…
56. Image source, Getty Images