Jack Draper Shocks Djokovic at Indian Wells
In an exciting fourth-round match at the BNP Paribas Open, the current champion, Jack Draper, came back from a set down to defeat the five-time champion, Novak Djokovic, with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5). Draper, 24 years old, who is returning after an arm injury that kept him off the courts for eight months, managed to advance to the quarterfinals. His next rival will be Daniil Medvedev, who previously defeated Alex Michelsen. Djokovic, seeded number three, was leading the third set with a score of 6-5 before Draper reacted and forced a tiebreak.In addition to his victory at Indian Wells last year, Draper, seeded number 14, was also crowned champion at the Stuttgart Open and the Vienna Open, both in 2024. Djokovic, 38 years old and winner of 24 Grand Slam titles, achieved victories in Indian Wells in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, and 2016. This year, he was close to winning his eleventh title at the Australian Open, but was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz.I still don’t feel like I’m playing anywhere near the way I want to play. I went out and won that match through determination.
Jack Draper
Draper will face Medvedev, eleventh seed, on Thursday night and commented: “I am very proud of where I am with my game. I was telling my coach that, to be honest, I think my level could be much better. Not so much with the tennis, but more with my mentality on the court.” “It’s difficult when you haven’t been on the match court for a while, especially against the best players in the world. They make you feel uncomfortable. And, although today is a great victory, it’s also a small victory in my recovery and in getting back to playing and being the kind of player I want to become.” Djokovic praised Draper’s performance, saying: “He’s playing very well. He’s confident and always had confidence and is physically very fit. Overall, he’s a great player, a great guy. I wish him all the best for the rest of the tournament.”It was an incredible match. I think we both gave our best. Just overwhelmed to beat Novak, someone I’ve watched, admired, and idolized since I was a kid. Very grateful to be in this situation and try again tomorrow.
Jack Draper
