Draper stuns two-time defending champ Alcaraz to reach Indian Wells final

Britain's Jack Draper reacts after beating two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals at Indian Wells (Patrick T. Fallon)

Jack Draper ended Carlos Alcaraz's bid for a rare Indian Wells ATP Masters three-peat on Saturday, toppling the Spaniard to book a title clash with Holger Rune.

Britain's Draper, ranked 14th in the world, held his nerve to beat Alcaraz 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 and reach the first Masters 1000 final of his career.

Denmark's Rune, ranked 13th, triumphed 7-5, 6-4 over world number six Daniil Medvedev -- who had been runner-up to Alcaraz each of the past two years.

"This one hurts," admitted Alcaraz, who was trying to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to win three straight titles in the California desert.

"I don't want to lose any match, but I think this one was even more special to me. It was difficult today, a lot of nerves in the match."

Draper ended Alcaraz's 16-match winning streak in the California desert, leaping out of the gate and wrapping up the first set in 23 minutes as Alcaraz failed to get to grips with the left-hander's serve.

The second set was a mirror image of the first as Alcaraz found his range and after fending off a break point with a 137 mph ace in the opening game broke Draper three times to level the match.

“It was a strange match in all honesty,” Draper said. "Carlos came out a little flat, I sensed that. I had a chance in the first game of the second, and he came up with an ace ...

"What happened to him happened to me, I got tight, I had low energy. I got lost out there for 25 minutes, but in the third, I was really proud of my competitiveness, my attitude and I somehow managed to get over the line."

Draper, who lost a set to love for the first time in his career, broke Alcaraz for a 2-1 lead in the third in a game that featured a lengthy video review that showed the Briton had indeed managed to scoop back a winner off an Alcaraz drop shot without a double bounce.

Upon review umpire Mohamed Lahyani first called for the point to be replayed but then awarded it to Draper, ruling his "not up" call in the rally hadn't hindered Alcaraz.

"Waiting for the ball reviews, they didn't bother me at all," Alcaraz said. "All I can say is Jack came, he played much better than me. That point didn't affect my play at all."

With momentum on his side, Draper broke again for 5-2 lead -- Alcaraz failing to put away four game points.

Draper did show some nerves as he served for the match at 5-2 and was broken, abut steadied himself to seal the victory on his second opportunity.

- Make it difficult -

Rune executed a thoughtful game plan to perfection against Medvedev to snap a seven-match losing streak in semi-finals.

"It was to really play my game, come forward, take the ball on the rise," Rune said of his strategy against a player known for his defense.

"If you hit hard to him, he likes the pace and he responds well to being in the defense and hitting strong back.

"So I tried to make it difficult for him. I tried to mix it up, making every shot that he has to play annoying for him. Slices, slow slices, some mixing the tempo, hitting hard on some, looping some."

After an early exchange of breaks in the opening set, Rune managed to grind out a key hold for 4-4, saving one break point in a game that went to deuce six times and lasted nearly 11 minutes.

He broke for a 6-5 lead and pocketed the set when his rolling backhand drew another error from Medvedev, then rode an early break in the second set to victory.

bb/sev

Topics

Draper stuns Alcaraz to reach Indian Wells final

Britain's Jack Draper is helped by a controversial video call in his favour to earn a coming-of-age win over four-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Yahoo Sports - 7h
BNP Paribas Open: Jack Draper stuns Carlos Alcaraz to reach first Indian Wells final

Draper’s win snaps Alcaraz’s 16-match win streak at Indian Wells, dating back to 2023.
Yahoo Sports - 7h
Watch: Jack Draper stuns Carlos Alcaraz after double-bounce row in Indian Wells semi-final

Jack Draper ousted defending champion Carlos Alcaraz from Indian Wells in a bizarre semi-final that featured a pivotal double-bounce controversy early in the deciding set.
Yahoo Sports - 5h
Draper stuns Alcaraz in dramatic Indian Wells semi-final

Britain's Jack Draper is helped by a controversial video call in his favour to earn a coming-of-age win over four-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz.
BBC News - 4h
Alcaraz expects tough test from Draper in Indian Wells semi-finals

Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is bracing for a tough semi-final test from "ambitious" British lefty Jack Draper on Saturday as he aims to take the next step toward a rare Indian Wells ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Teen Andreeva topples defending champ Swiatek to reach Indian Wells final

Russian teen Mirra Andreeva ended defending champion Iga Swiatek's bid for an unprecedented third Indian Wells women's title, toppling the world number two 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 6-3 on Friday to reach ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Listen: Indian Wells men's semi-final - Draper v Alcaraz

Listen as Britain's Jack Draper takes on current Indian Wells champion Carlos Alcaraz.
BBC News - 1d
Draper sets up Indian Wells semi-final with Alcaraz

Jack Draper beats Ben Shelton on a cold and blustery evening in Indian Wells to set up a tantalising semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Draper sets up Indian Wells semi-final with Alcaraz

Jack Draper beats Ben Shelton on a cold and blustery evening in Indian Wells to set up a tantalising semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz.
BBC News - 2d
Draper reaches maiden Indian Wells quarter-final

Britain's Jack Draper reaches the Indian Wells quarter-finals by beating world number four Taylor Fritz in one of the best performances of his career.
BBC News - 3d
Jack Draper to face Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells in first Masters 1000 semi-final

British No 1 defeats Ben Shelton 6-4 7-5 at BNP Paribas Open Draper meets two-time defending champion in last four in Indian Wells Jack Draper has booked his place in an ATP Masters 1000 ...
The Guardian - 2d
Draper holds nerve to beat Alcaraz and set up Indian Wells final against Rune

British No 1 defeats defending champion 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 Draper to face Holger Rune after he beat Daniil Medvedev Of the four previous times that Jack Draper and Carlos Alcaraz had stood across the ...
The Guardian - 7h
Alcaraz three-peat bid on track as Cerundolo downed

Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz fought off determined challenger Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the Indian Wells ATP Masters.Alcaraz next ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Alcaraz upset by Draper in semis at Indian Wells

Twelfth-seeded Holger Rune beat fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev 7-6, 6-4 on Saturday to advance to the BNP Paribas Open final.
ESPN - 5h
Draper solves Brooksby puzzle to reach Indian Wells fourth round

Jack Draper overcomes a slow start to beat Jenson Brooksby and reach the Indian Wells fourth round.
BBC News - 5d
Bencic battles blisters, stuns Gauff at Indian Wells

Belinda Bencic stunned third-seeded American Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
ESPN - 3d
Sabalenka crushes Keys to reach Indian Wells final

World number one Aryna Sabalenka overwhelmed Madison Keys 6-0, 6-1 to reach the Indian Wells WTA 1000 final on Friday, avenging her loss to the fifth-ranked American in the Australian Open ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Jack Draper knocks out final American man Ben Shelton to reach semifinals at Indian Wells

Draper had already beaten Americans Jenson Brooksby and Taylor Fritz, in addition to topping rising star João Fonseca of Brazil in his opening round.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Andreeva to face Sabalenka in Indian Wells final

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva beats defending champion Iga Swiatek at Indian Wells to set up a final against top seed Aryna Sabalenka.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Rune shocks Medvedev to reach Indian Wells ATP final

Denmark's Holger Rune beat Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-4 to reach the Indian Wells ATP Masters final on Saturday, denying the Russian world number six a third straight trip to the title match.He gained ...
Yahoo Sports - 9h
Swiatek to face Andreeva, Sabalenka meets Keys in Indian Wells semi-finals

Defending champion Iga Swiatek beat Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday, avenging her Olympics semi-final loss to the Paris Games gold medallist to reach the last four at Indian Wells.The world ...
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Mirra Andreeva blows away Iga Swiatek to book Indian Wells final against Aryna Sabalenka

Andreeva defeats Swiatek 7-6, 1-6, 6-3 Sabalenka crushes Keys 6-0, 6-1 Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva beat defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-6, 1-6, 6-3 to reach the Indian Wells final for the ...
The Guardian - 1d
Lucky loser Van de Zandschulp stuns struggling Djokovic at Indian Wells

Five-time champion loses 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in second round Jack Draper and Sonay Kartal advance to third round Novak Djokovic’s difficult start to the season continued on the North American hard ...
The Guardian - Mar. 9
Jack Draper survives scare to defeat Jenson Brooksby at Indian Wells

Briton trails 4-1 in first set but roars back to win 7-5, 6-4 Jamie Murray ‘proud’ after reaching doubles milestone Jack Draper survived a scare to defeat Jenson Brooksby 7-5, 6-4 and book his ...
The Guardian - 5d
Swiatek to face Andreeva in Indian Wells semis

Defending champion Iga Swiatek sets up an Indian Wells semi-final against teenager Mirra Andreeva, while top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka faces Madison Keys.
BBC News - 2d
Alcaraz 'upset about myself' in nervy loss at Indian Wells

Carlos Alcaraz crashed out of his Indian Wells three-peat bid on Saturday, and nerves played a key role in "one of the worst sets I have played in my career.""That's, for me, the most disappointed ...
Yahoo Sports - 5h
Jack Draper revels in ‘best match’ at Indian Wells after seeing off Taylor Fritz

British No 1 defeats third seed 7-5, 6-4 Draper will face Ben Shelton in quarter-finals Jack Draper booked his place in the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open with a straight-sets victory ...
The Guardian - 3d
State champion Albertus Magnus rolls past Middletown to reach girls basketball Final Four

Defending state Class AA champ Albertus Magnus reaches AAA Final Four with dominant win over Middletown in girls basketball regional final
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Carlos Alcaraz feels 'at home' at Indian Wells with win over Francisco Cerúndolo

The 21-year-old Spanish tennis star is now into his fourth consecutive Indian Wells semifinal.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
From hotel dash to career-best run - Kartal reaches Indian Wells last 16

Sonay Kartal's dream run at Indian Wells continues as the British lucky loser beats Polina Kudermetova to reach the fourth round.
BBC News - 5d
Aryna Sabalenka dismantles Madison Keys at Indian Wells, advances to final

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Revenge can be a pretty strong motivator, and it was on full display Friday night at Indian Wells as Aryna Sabalenka got more than a measure of it against Madison Keys. Seven ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
17-year-old Andreeva advances to Indian Wells final, beating Swiatek in chilly conditions

Russian teen star Mirra Andreeva advanced to the BNP Paribas Open final, beating defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-6 (1), 1-6, 6-3 in chilly conditions Friday night to become the tournament’s ...
ABC News - 1d
2025 Indian Wells Open: How to watch the Round of 16 at the tennis tournament, full TV schedule and more

It's time for the Indian Wells Open.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
At 22, Ben Shelton is youngest American man since 2004 to reach quarterfinals at Indian Wells

Ben Shelton has become the youngest American man since Andy Roddick in 2004 to reach the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open
ABC News - 3d
Boulter and Norrie knocked out of Indian Wells

There are only two Britons left in Indian Wells after Katie Boulter and Cameron Norrie suffer straight-set defeats in the third round.
BBC News - 6d
Kartal's memorable Indian Wells run ended by Sabalenka

British lucky loser Sonay Kartal sees her memorable Indian Wells run ended emphatically by world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
BBC News - 3d
Kartal's memorable Indian Wells run ended by Sabalenka

British lucky loser Sonay Kartal sees her memorable Indian Wells run ended emphatically by world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Svitolina grateful for Indian Wells support after Trump-Zelenskyy clash

Ukrainian upsets local hope Jessica Pegula 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 Will next play Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in quarter-finals Elina Svitolina said she had received an outpouring of support from Americans ...
The Guardian - 3d
Inside the Sudden Rise to Fame of a Tennis Bee Catcher

Lance Davis saved Carlos Alcaraz and the Indian Wells tennis event last year, when bees swarmed over the main court and stung the star.
The New York Times - 2d