British tennis star Jack Draper secured a career-defining victory against Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling Indian Wells semi-final, marking his entry into the world’s top 10 rankings. The 23-year-old defeated the four-time Grand Slam champion 6-1, 0-6, 6-4, relying on a video-assisted review to overturn a crucial call in the final set. The match’s turning point came when the umpire mistakenly ruled that Draper had failed to reach a drop shot in time, awarding the point to Alcaraz. However, thanks to video technology now available at the Indian Wells tournament, Draper successfully challenged the call, shifting momentum in his favor. Capitalizing on the decision, he broke Alcaraz’s serve and eventually closed out the match on his second attempt. While the Spanish star insisted the decision did not affect his game, his performance dipped afterward, preventing him from securing a third consecutive Indian Wells title. Draper now faces Denmark’s Holger Rune in the final, who secured his spot by defeating Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-4.
Draper’s remarkable run at the tournament reflects his growing confidence and improved fitness, following a history of injuries that previously hindered his progress. His last encounter with Alcaraz at the Australian Open ended in disappointment when he was forced to retire due to a hip injury. Since then, Draper has managed his schedule carefully, playing only two tournaments—Doha and Indian Wells—and reaching the final in both. His disciplined approach has allowed him to maintain peak physical form, making him a formidable opponent. En route to the Indian Wells semi-finals, Draper did not drop a single set, defeating rising talents like Joao Fonseca and Jenson Brooksby, as well as top players including world number four Taylor Fritz and Australian Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton. His solid serving, sharp returns, and newfound self-belief played a crucial role in his success. Despite losing all momentum in the second set, Draper took a moment to reset mentally, delivering a decisive performance in the third set to claim victory.
Meanwhile, in women’s doubles, British player Olivia Nicholls fell short of claiming her first WTA 1,000 title, losing the final alongside her Slovakian partner Tereza Mihalikova. The duo was defeated 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) by the pairing of Dutch player Demi Schuurs and American Asia Muhammad. Despite the loss, Nicholls has continued her impressive rise in the doubles rankings, reaching a career-high world number 31. Since forming their partnership last year, she and Mihalikova have delivered strong performances, establishing themselves as a competitive team on the WTA circuit. With Draper’s breakthrough in singles and Nicholls’ steady progress in doubles, British tennis is experiencing a resurgence on the global stage. Draper remains focused on the final, hoping to cap off his stellar run with a title that could further solidify his place among the sport’s elite.
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