World no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz will compete in his second consecutive Australian Open quarter-final. The four-time Major winner led 7-5, 6-1 in the fourth round against Jack Draper at Rod Laver Arena before the Briton decided to retire.
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The 15th seed came from two sets to one down in the first three matches in Melbourne, prevailing in five sets and losing steam. He fought well against Alcaraz in the opener before losing ground, retiring after the second set and sending his good friens through.
Carlos could face Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster quarter-final, with the Serb meeting Jiri Lehecka in the final round 16 encounter.
Carlos played well behind the first serve but struggled on the second. He lost serve once from three chances offered to Jack. The Spaniard controlled the rallies and landed 38 winners and 28 unforced errors. World no. 3 took almost half of the return points.
He converted them into four breaks from 12 opportunities, dominating the second set before his rival decided to quit. Draper made a slow start and played against four break points in games two and four. He denied them and leveled the score at 2-2 with a forehand winner.
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Carlos denied two break points in the fifth game and landed a perfect drop shot winner for a hold. A left-hander struggled on serve again in the sixth game, missing a forehand and falling 4-2 behind. Alcaraz held for 5-2 with a volley winner and served for the set in game nine.
He missed a slice and experienced a break, bringing Draper back to the positive side. The Spaniard held in the 11th game and made a push on the return in the next one. He cracked a forehand down the line winner on the second break point, taking the opener 7-5 in 56 minutes.
Alcaraz served well in the second set, and Draper struggled to follow that pace. The Spaniard seized the second break point in the second game with a forehand winner and cracked direct points in the next one for a hold at love and a 3-0 advantage.
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Jack saved two break points in the fourth game and landed a volley winnerto reduce the deficit. Carlos opened a 4-1 lead with a forehand winner and made another push on the return in the next one. He landed a forehand crosscourt winner for break points.
World no. 3 landed a forehand winner on the first as his rival struggled to move. Alcaraz fired an ace while serving for the set at 5-1, holding at love and moving two sets to love in front after an hour and 35 minutes. Draper decided to retire after having nothing left in the tank.
