Draper's Stunning Victory Over Alcaraz at Indian Wells: A Career-Defining Moment

Dramatic Semi-Final Showdown at Indian Wells

In a match that will be remembered as a turning point in his career, 23-year-old British star Jack Draper produced a sensational performance to defeat four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 in the semi-finals of the 2025 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Match Turning Point: VAR-Style Review

The pivotal moment came in the third game of the decisive set with the score tied at 1-1. Chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani initially ruled that Draper had played a double-bounce on Alcaraz's drop shot. However, using the innovative video review system (a trial feature at Indian Wells), Draper successfully challenged the call, gaining a crucial 15-30 advantage that led to a service break.

"The video reviews are really good for tennis," said Draper post-match. "I'm proud of myself but I'm already thinking about the final."

Draper's Remarkable Comeback Story

This victory marks a stunning turnaround for Draper, who:

Withdrew from his match against Alcaraz at January's Australian Open due to injury
Has now reached finals in both tournaments he's played since (Doha and Indian Wells)
Will break into the ATP Top 10 for the first time
Becomes just the fifth British man to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final

Match Analysis

First Set (6-1 Draper):

Draper won 8 of first 9 points
Secured double break at 5-1
Closed set in just 23 minutes

Second Set (0-6 Alcaraz):

Alcaraz saved break point in opening game
Spanish star dominated with powerful groundstrokes
Draper appeared fatigued

Final Set (6-4 Draper):

Draper reset with bathroom pep talk
Crucial break came after video review
Served out match on second attempt

Road to the Final

Draper's path to the championship match included victories over:

Teenage prodigy Joao Fonseca
Former Top 20 player Jenson Brooksby
World No. 4 Taylor Fritz
Australian Open semifinalist Ben Shelton

Championship Match Preview

Draper will face 13th-ranked Holger Rune in Sunday's final after the Dane defeated Russian Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-4. Should he win:

First British Indian Wells champion since Tim Henman (2004)
First ATP Masters 1000 title
Projected to rise to World No. 8

Doubles Final Update

In the women's doubles final, Britain's Olivia Nicholls and partner Tereza Mihalikova fell 6-2, 7-6(4) to the team of Demi Schuurs and Asia Muhammad. Despite the loss, Nicholls will reach a career-high doubles ranking of 31.