Jack Draper Stuns Carlos Alcaraz to Reach the Indian Wells Final
Indian Wells
March 16, 2025
Jack Draper looked himself in the eye as his dream threatened to fall apart. The noisy crowd outside supported Carlos Alcaraz and demanded the kill.
It appeared for all the world that Indian Wells would get what it wanted. The exciting young Brit had just suffered a second-set bagel. Nerves and the enormity of the occasion were overwhelming him.
Jack Draper will have Centre Court on his side if there’s a similar moment of truth at Wimbledon 2025. But in the desert he was up against it.
This was the last chance for Draper to summon his inner steel and turn the high stakes and hostility back in his favour.
Jack had made a very sensible decision to leave the court to regain his composure before the decider.
The 23-year-old had won the first set in as many minutes. Then the humiliation. How could he turn the tide?
Draper explained: ‘I went to the toilet and looked in the mirror. I said to myself: “You are in the semi-finals of a Masters 1000 and you need a win against Carlos Alcaraz to make the top ten in a full stadium.
‘”Don’t worry about nerves. Go for it.” I had to give everything I’ve got.’
And giving everything he had meant refusing to accept the umpire’s decision when accused of allowing a second bounce early in the third.
Video replays showed Draper had reached the ball in time – and the umpire had been mistaken to call ‘not up.’
The usual ruling would have been to replay the point – but Jack Draper wasn’t going to settle for that either.
He argued that Alcaraz couldn’t have reached his scooped winner, even without the distraction of the umpire’s intervention.
Sportingly, Alcaraz answered Draper’s request to come to the net to debate the matter between them. Carlitos gave way and awarded his opponent the point. Moments later, the Spaniard was broken.
At one stage, the Englishman served for the match at 5-2. He blew it. There was another opportunity at 5-4. Many thought the underdog would crumble once more.
But he came up with a series of stunning first serves when it mattered, using clever wide angles. Alcaraz couldn’t cope. The upset was ultimately secured 6-1, 0-6, 6-4.
Jack Draper and Carlos Alcaraz are developing a rivalry that might well be resumed on historic Centre Court at Wimbledon 2025.
But for now, Draper must gather himself and push through one last barrier to Masters 1000 glory.
Fellow finalist Holger Rune will also be in sparkling form after beating Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-4. He has more experience of the big occasion. But then again so did Alcaraz. And Jack is top ten now, after all.
Will you be at Wimbledon 2025 to see Jack Draper, Holger Rune and Carlos Alcaraz do battle for the biggest title of them all?
Give us a call and we will secure you a place in the glamour and history of the All England Club this summer.