Jack Draper secured a thrilling victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the Indian Wells semifinals, overcoming the defending champion 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 to reach his first Masters 1000 final. The win marked a defining moment in Draper’s career, as he proved his ability to compete at the highest level against one of the most dominant players in the sport. He will now face Holger Rune in the final, who earlier defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.
Draper and Alcaraz had previously faced each other four times, with the British player retiring injured in two of those matches. His struggles with physical durability have been a key challenge throughout his career, but over the past year, he has shown remarkable improvement both physically and mentally. Now ranked inside the top 10, Draper’s latest victory signals his arrival among the sport’s elite.
The match was a rollercoaster, with Draper making a dominant start. Alcaraz, usually composed in high-pressure moments, looked out of sorts in the opening set. The Spaniard double-faulted twice in his first service game and struggled with unforced errors. Draper capitalized, serving well and showing impressive defensive resilience to claim the first set in just 23 minutes.
Alcaraz, however, responded emphatically in the second set. Finding his rhythm, he started dictating points with his powerful forehand and deep returns. Draper struggled to counter his opponent’s aggressive play, and the momentum swung entirely in Alcaraz’s favor. The Briton found himself overwhelmed, barely able to win points as Alcaraz swept through the set 6-0.
Despite the setback, Draper regrouped for the deciding set. A crucial moment came early when a historic double video review took place. At 1-1, 15-15 on Alcaraz’s serve, the umpire initially ruled that Draper had failed to retrieve a drop shot in time, calling a double bounce. Draper challenged the call, and the replay confirmed he had reached the ball cleanly. A second review was then requested to determine whether the initial incorrect call had impacted Alcaraz’s next shot, which had landed out. The ruling ultimately awarded the point to Draper, and moments later, he secured a critical break.
With the match on the line, Draper showed composure and resilience. He served strongly and maintained his defensive solidity, forcing Alcaraz into making errors. Despite being broken once, Draper held firm to close out the match, securing the biggest win of his career and breaking Alcaraz’s 16-match unbeaten streak at Indian Wells.
This victory cements Draper’s status as a top-tier player. His ability to recover from adversity and hold his nerve under pressure was crucial in overcoming a player of Alcaraz’s caliber. With his first Masters 1000 final ahead, he now has the chance to take another step toward fulfilling his ambitions at the highest level of the sport.
