Jack Draper left ‘frustrated’ and ‘down on himself’ in Carlos Alcaraz defeat

Laura Robson believes Jack Draper was ‘frustrated’ mentally and got ‘a bit down on himself’ in Wednesday’s Italian Open defeat to Carlos Alcaraz.

The British No.1 aimed a tirade at his coaching team in the stands as Alcaraz defeated him 6-4 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the event in Rome.

Spanish star Alcaraz, meanwhile, was seen ‘laughing over to his player box and giggling away’ with a much calmer and more relaxed attitude.

Former British tennis star Robson, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, has shared her thoughts on where the match was won and lost.

As well as winning the mental battle, Robson says Alcaraz was more impressive with his footwork and damaged Draper with his drop shots.

”It was an interesting match that ebbed and flowed without either playing well at the same time,’ Robson said. ‘There was flashes of brilliance from both players.

‘Jack got a good start but lose a bit of intensity with his footwork. There was the game where he had the break in the first [set] but then the split step off his serve in the following game was just a split second slower.

‘That’s all it takes to let someone back in of Carlos’ quality. They tried to figure each other out, Carlos was using the drop shot a lot.

‘In the big moments, it just felt like Carlos was fresher with his footwork. That plays a huge part.

‘It was very close, the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story of the match, but it was a match where Jack will feel he maybe could have edged the key moments.

‘Alcaraz looked relaxed. There were moments in the second set when he was laughing over to his player box and giggling away between the points because he was trying new things.

‘He played a really smart match. He was using the drop shots really well when Jack was dropping behind the baseline.

‘He knew what Jack’s strengths were and was able to neutralise them well. There were moments where his serve was going through the body, so Jack can’t take the backhand return early, he can’t go around and hit an inside-in forehand.

‘He played the points slightly better. There was little in it and it was fine margins.

‘The ball was bouncing quite high today above [Alcaraz’s] shoulder which he really enjoys with his forehand. He can drop back onto his outside leg and then go anywhere with his shots.

‘Jack was being really aggressive with his backhand, trying to get it moving quickly away from Carlos’ strike zone, but then you need energy to do that. You need fast footwork, you need intensity with your first step off the split step.

‘I’m sure Jack will be thinking he could’ve played a few points slightly differently with tactics but at the end of the day, it’s No.5 vs No.3 in the world, it’s never going to be easy.

‘I think mentally, he was just getting a bit frustrated and a bit down on himself. When you’re not feeling 100 per cent fresh it’s very hard.’