In a thrilling semi-final at the Indian Wells Masters, Britain’s Jack Draper defeated two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz with a scoreline of 6-1, 0-6, 6-4, ending Alcaraz’s 16-match winning streak at the tournament.
The match was a roller-coaster affair. Draper dominated the first set, securing it in just 23 minutes. However, Alcaraz responded emphatically in the second set, delivering a bagel to level the match. The decisive third set saw Draper break Alcaraz early, a lead he maintained despite a brief resurgence from the Spaniard.
A pivotal moment occurred in the third set involving a controversial double-bounce call. Umpire Mohamed Lahyani initially called for a replay but then awarded the point to Draper, ruling his “not up” call hadn’t affected Alcaraz’s play. Alcaraz acknowledged that the point didn’t affect his play.
This victory propels Draper into his first ATP Masters 1000 final and ensures his debut in the world’s top ten rankings. Reflecting on his journey, Draper expressed immense emotion, citing past injuries and hard work leading up to this milestone.
Alcaraz, who was aiming for a third consecutive Indian Wells title, admitted that nerves played a significant role in his performance. He acknowledged being more focused on Draper’s game than his own, a factor he believes contributed to his loss. Despite the setback, Alcaraz remains optimistic about learning from the experience and is shifting his focus to the upcoming Miami Open.
Draper will face Denmark’s Holger Rune in the final, marking the first ATP Masters 1000 singles final to be contested by two players born in the 2000s.
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