Jack Draper achieved the most significant victory and earned the largest payout of his career with a stunning performance at the Indian Wells Open.
The British player from Sutton became only the fifth Briton, joining Andy Murray, Cameron Norrie, Tim Henman, and Greg Rusedski, to win a Masters 1000 title, a prestigious honor in tennis just below the four Grand Slams.
Draper`s commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory against Holger Rune, who was not at his best, secured him the Indian Wells Open title and a substantial £930,000 prize for his two weeks of effort in Palm Springs.
He served ten aces against a pressured Rune, 21, mirroring Norrie`s triumph on the same court four years prior.
Draper, who won in just 68 minutes, shortly after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-final, dropped to his knees and pointed to the sky in celebration.
He expressed his joy, saying, “It’s incredible. I wasn’t expecting this. I have invested a lot of work over time.”
“I am incredibly grateful and happy to be here, to be able to compete, my body feels healthy, and my mind is sharp.”
“It feels like all the effort I’ve put in over the past few years is culminating on the grand stage. It’s hard to express in words.”
“Starting strong was crucial. I approached the match effectively. I experienced some fluctuations in energy against Carlos yesterday. I learned from that.”
“I anticipated Holger to perform strongly. I needed to be aggressive and play to win from the outset, which I executed exceptionally well.”
“I felt in control throughout the match, dictating the play effectively.”
“In all honesty, I believe I deserve this. Considering the challenges I`ve overcome, the sacrifices made, and the dedication of my support team.”
“To be here now, knowing I will reach world number seven, is incredibly meaningful to me.”
Draper, 23, winning the coin toss and choosing to receive serve, could not have anticipated a more assured start in the windy conditions of the Californian desert.
Within just 14 minutes, he had broken Rune`s serve twice and established a 4-0 lead against the visibly unsettled and stressed Dane.
Despite both players wearing similar tennis attire and baseball caps backwards in the bright sun, Draper demonstrated a clear advantage in skill.
Draper calmly secured the first set in just 29 minutes without much celebration.
A service break at the beginning of the second set quieted the crowd, making it clear that the match was becoming one-sided as he confidently moved toward victory.
Rune even applauded one exceptional forehand winner from his opponent.
This successful two-week period, marked by Draper’s most consistent professional tennis, will elevate him to a career-high ranking of No. 7 globally, just 60 points behind Novak Djokovic in fifth place.
Draper’s next tournament is in Miami, but the impact of this victory will be significant throughout the year, not just this month.
This result positions him as a serious contender for Grand Slam titles, especially with Wimbledon approaching in less than four months.
Earlier in the day, in the women’s singles final, 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva overcame a set deficit to upset world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, in a victory filled with emotion.
