In a stunning turn of events at the Indian Wells semi-final, Jack Draper secured a remarkable victory over reigning star Carlos Alcaraz, propelling himself into the biggest final of his career.
Draper Defeats Alcaraz in Epic Indian Wells Semi-Final
Draper Defeats Alcaraz in Epic Indian Wells Semi-Final
Jack Draper knocks out Carlos Alcaraz, advancing to his first ATP Masters 1000 final in a thrilling match.
In a shocking sem-final at Indian Wells, Britain's Jack Draper emerged victorious against the four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, triumphing with a scoreline of 6-1, 0-6, 6-4. This thrilling match marked a pivotal moment for Draper, who will soon rise into the top 10 of global rankings for the first time in his career. Following his win, Draper remarked, "I'm proud of myself but I'm already thinking about the final. I want to end this week in a great way."
The encounter was characterized by an extraordinary moment in the deciding set, where Draper benefitted from a video assistant referee review after a controversial call about a double bounce. The decision was overturned, allowing Draper to secure an important break against Alcaraz, and ultimately, the match. Despite the setback, Alcaraz insisted he wasn't impacted by the incident. Draper's performance affirmed his resilience, especially as he previously struggled with fitness issues that led him to retire during their last encounter at the Australian Open.
Draper reached this semi-final without dropping a single set, showcasing consistent serving and confident movement on the court. His attitude remained unshaken as he overcame an initial setback in the second set, regathering his focus and decisively proving his mettle against the Spanish ace. He will now face Holger Rune in the final, who also advanced with a victory over Daniil Medvedev.
Additionally, in women's doubles, Britain's Olivia Nicholls narrowly missed out on her first WTA 1,000 title, finishing as a runner-up alongside partner Tereza Mihalikova against Demi Schuurs and Asia Muhammad. Despite the loss, Nicholls’ partnership has shown strong potential, and she will see her world ranking rise to a career-high 31st.
As Draper prepares for the final, he is focused on capitalizing on this opportunity and making history for British tennis at the prestigious Masters 1000 event in California.
