British No. 1 Jack Draper is set to make his debut as a top-five player in the world rankings on Monday after reaching the Madrid Open final without dropping a set.
The 23-year-old continued his remarkable rise through the tennis ranks with a commanding semi-final victory over Italy's Lorenzo Musetti.
Draper will face Norwegian clay court specialist Casper Ruud in Sunday's final as he aims to claim his second Masters 1000 title in less than two months.
His meteoric ascent will see him overtake Novak Djokovic in the rankings.
Jack Draper paid tribute to his mum after reaching the Madrid Open final
Sky Sports
Draper secured his place in the final with a 6-4 7-6(4) victory over Musetti, maintaining his perfect 4-0 record against the Italian.
The first set saw Draper break Musetti's serve twice, eventually converting on his third set point.
Musetti raised his level in the second set with some stunning shot-making while Draper appeared to tire.
However, the Briton adjusted his tactics brilliantly, incorporating serve-and-volley play and taking a more aggressive approach.
A solitary mini-break and a backhand winner in the tie-break sealed another impressive victory.
After his victory, Draper paid a heartwarming tribute to his mother, Nicky, who flew to Madrid to watch him compete in the semi-final.
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The fifth seed's mum cheered him on from his box throughout the match.
When asked about her support, Draper lit up, though he admitted he had a "shocker" the last time she watched him play.
"In these moments now, I am thinking about all the pain I go through on a daily basis on the practice court, in strength and conditioning, all the sacrifices," Draper told Sky Sports.
Draper's exceptional performance on clay has been particularly impressive, given it was previously considered his weakest surface.
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Jack Draper has entered the top-five ranked players in the world for the first time
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His rapid rise began with the Indian Wells title in March and has accelerated on the red dirt of Madrid.
"I try and remember why I do it," Draper reflected on his motivation during tough moments.
Looking ahead to the final, he acknowledged the challenge posed by Ruud: "A two-time French Open finalist and very accustomed to the clay. A big pro, always gives his best so that will be real, real challenge."
Ruud showed his class under pressure to overcome Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 6-4 7-5 in his semi-final.
A wholesome answer from Jack Draper on his mum coming to watch him play 🥺 pic.twitter.com/GxMTLHpdKS
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) May 2, 2025
The Norwegian saved 15 of 18 break points he faced, including seven in a marathon 14-minute game in the second set.
Remarkably, Ruud revealed he struggled with a rib injury before the match.
"I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish the match, honestly. I felt something in my rib during the warm-up," Ruud said.
Sunday will be Ruud's 18th final on clay, with only Djokovic having reached more among active players.
