Draper lifted the Indian Wells trophy in March.
Jack Draper produced a commanding display to secure a spot in the Madrid Open quarter-finals, dispatching Tommy Paul 6-2 6-2.
The British top seed broke Paul in both the third and seventh games before holding serve to love to claim the opening set in just 32 minutes.
Paul came under increased pressure on his serve, and, though he saved two break points in the second set’s third game, Draper responded by breaking to love in game five to move 3-2 ahead.
A ferocious forehand winner down the line left Draper leading 5-2 with a double break, and he comfortably served out the match in one hour and seven minutes.
“I felt really good on court,” Draper told Sky Sports. “Tommy’s a fantastic player and I knew I needed to be sharp from the beginning. I felt strong.
“For players from the UK, or those less experienced on this surface, there’s often a perception that they can’t excel on it, and that can hold them back,” he added.
“This year I am determined to prove I can perform well on clay. If I want to be among the elite, I know this is essential.”
Draper’s formidable forehand proved decisive, generating 13 of his 20 winners. He did not face a single break point throughout the match.
Paul could muster only seven winners and struggled with 31 unforced errors, compared to just 11 for Draper.
Draper, at a career-best world No. 6, is seeded fifth in Madrid and is the highest-ranked competitor remaining in the draw.
Next, he will take on Matteo Arnaldi, who ousted Novak Djokovic before defeating Frances Tiafoe 6-3 7-5. Should Draper secure the title, he could rise to world number five.
On the women’s side, defending champion Iga Swiatek recovered from a first-set whitewash to defeat Madison Keys 0-6 6-3 6-2 in the quarters.
Keys, the reigning Australian Open champion, stormed through the opening set in just 24 minutes, but four-time Roland Garros winner Swiatek mounted an impressive comeback to advance to the semi-finals.
“Honestly, this was one of the strangest matches I’ve played,” Swiatek admitted.
“I didn’t feel the first set was terrible. The ball was flying long; I tried to adjust, and with some errors from Maddy, the momentum shifted. I’m pleased I found a way.”
Swiatek will face Coco Gauff, who defeated Mirra Andreeva 7-5 6-1 to book her place in the semi-finals.
Gauff saved two set points before taking control and closing out her match.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina reached the last four with a 6-2 6-1 win against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, and will play world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who edged Marta Kostyuk 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (9-7).
Sabalenka survived a brief disruption in the second-set tie-break, saving three set points to claim a hard-earned victory.
“It was truly a battle and conditions were extremely challenging,” said the 26-year-old world number one. “Tonight was less about tennis, more about emotional management.
“I’m proud of how I stayed composed under such pressure.”
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