Jack Draper has officially guaranteed himself a spot in the world’s top five after a dominant display at the Madrid Open. The British No. 1 needed just an hour and 17 minutes to breeze past Matteo Arnaldi, the unseeded Italian who stunned Novak Djokovic, 6-0 6-4.

At No. 6 in the world, Draper is the highest-ranked man left in the draw, and he finds himself two wins away from picking up his second Masters 1000 title of the season. The 23-year-old has yet to drop a set at the Caja Magica this fortnight and seems to be getting better with every match.

Draper made an impression when he demolished 11th seed Tommy Paul 6-2 6-2 in the previous round, and he picked up exactly where he left off when he took to the Arantxa Sanchez Stadium to face world No. 44 Arnaldi in the quarters.

The Brit raced through the opening set, bagelling Arnaldi in just 25 minutes and dropping 10 points across all six games.

The Italian stepped it up in set two but he still failed to trouble Draper and didn’t create a single break point opportunity throughout the match, while one break was all the fifth seed needed to advance to the semi-final.

With his latest victory, Draper will now make his top-five debut when the rankings update on Monday, overtaking Djokovic for the No. 5 spot.

After reaching his first tour-level semi-final on clay, the British No. 1 explained how he has managed to put in such dominant performances this fortnight.

“I feel stronger every time I play,” he told Sky Sports. “The last couple of years coming onto the tour, I felt against these guys like I’d always be the one on the back foot and I’d always be the one defending.

“And the next part of my game was just getting stronger, getting more capable physically to do the things I know I can do and bully these guys. I feel like I've been doing everything in all areas pretty well.”

Draper has earned his new status as a top-five player; he now has an 18-4 record this season and he believes it’s a testament to all the work he’s put in.

“I think I’m just well prepared. I’ve worked really hard every single day, I do all the right things on the court, off the court. When I go out there on the match court, I kind of have the feeling that it’s going to be okay because I’ve prepared so well,” he continued.

“You can have your off days, I had an off day in Monte-Carlo, but I haven’t for a while, so I’m going to keep on trying to compete hard, keep on doing my thing and hopefully I can put more performances on the court like I did just there.”

The Brit has also been looking to some of his young rivals for inspiration, adding: “I think as the levels go up as well, you’ve got to have no fear. You see, Alcaraz, Sinner, they go after every ball without fear. I’m just trying to go after it.”

Not only is he the highest-ranked man in the draw, but Draper is the only Masters 1000 champion left in Madrid. But he still has doubts when he steps onto the court.

“I don’t really think ahead. Obviously I know who I’m supposed to be playing potentially, but at this level, I know I can lose any match and win any match. That’s my mindset anyway,” he said.

“I go out there every time and I try and play the best I can. I’m fearful, I’m doubtful, I’m thinking there’s a chance I could lose, but that helps me to compete the way I do, that fear.”

Draper will face either Lorenzo Musetti, the recent Monte-Carlo finalist, or lucky loser Gabriel Diallo for a spot in the final.