Matteo Arnaldi is looking for more than just another win at the Mutua Madrid Open.

The Italian made the headlines in the Caja Magica when he knocked out two-time champion Novak Djokovic in the first week of the competition. Now, far from suffering from a hangover from the result, he has secured himself a ticket to the quarterfinals.

The No. 44 in the PIF ATP Rankings shrugged off the pressure on Wednesday to defeat the American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 7-5 and make his way into the last eight on the Madrid clay. The two players kept their poise in a final set that only included one break of serve. Arnaldi’s nerves of steel again helped him secure the win. After some mentally exhausting clashes in the early rounds, the San Remo native could have been forgiven for a loss of focus. Nothing of the sort.

“I know Frances perfectly, we played at Wimbledon last year”, said the Italian, who today levelled their head-to-head at 1-1. “He’s a very strong player, he anticipates very well. I tried to move him around and have the initiative”.

Arnaldi’s win is another sign of his ability to take on some of the biggest names on tour. He is enjoying one of the best runs of his career at 24 years of age and has now won all of his last three matches against Top 20 opponents. Besides his successes against Tiafoe and Djokovic in the Caja Magica, he also took down Andrey Rublev in Indian Wells.

Arnaldi arrived in Madrid looking for an about turn in his fortunes in the European clay swing having come away from Barcelona and Monte Carlo empty handed. However, he has finally managed to find his feet on the red stuff and is now one of the men to watch in the Spanish capital.

“In Monte Carlo I wasn’t myself on court. I’d just played a hard-court swing and I never find it easy to adapt and play that first tournament”, said Arnaldi. “Monte Carlo is my home. I grew up just half an hour from that place. I also get nervous when I go out on court and I’ve never got a win. Many things came together that resulted in a bad level”.

“I was coming off the back of a tough time”, acknowledged the Italian. “I’d lost two first rounds, so it was important for me to win the first match. They’re victories that give you confidence. With Novak I simply went out to try and play my best tennis. After that match, I felt much more confident in myself and I was able to play the tennis I’ve always wanted. The key was the first match”.

The Italian, who is on cloud nine in the Caja Magica, is now looking to capitalise on his run so far. Reaching the quarterfinals in Madrid has guaranteed he will climb seven positions to No. 37 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. It is just reward for the consistency he seems to have found in the last few months on tour.

“I’ve always loved tennis”, explained the Italian, who will now take on Jack Draper for a place in the semis. “I like spending time in the gym, feeling physically fit and I love going out on court. I think that when all those things come together they make me the player I am today”.