Jack Draper has cemented his place among tennis’s elite with a commanding victory at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where he dismantled Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in just 68 minutes to claim his first ATP Masters 1000 title.
Draper, who has been in incredible form throughout the tournament, wasted no time in asserting his dominance. He broke Rune’s serve in the opening game, immediately setting the tone for what would be a one-sided affair. The Danish 13th seed, a four-time ATP 1000 finalist, struggled to cope with Draper’s relentless aggression and found himself trailing 4-0 within minutes. Despite Rune’s efforts to regain composure, Draper maintained his stranglehold on the match, wrapping up the first set easily.
The second set unfolded in a similar fashion, with Draper breaking Rune’s serve in the opening game yet again. Frustration crept into Rune’s game as he directed his anger toward his team, unable to find answers against Draper’s remarkable shot-making. As the final point was won, Draper dropped to his knees, fists clenched in celebration, marking a milestone moment in his young career.
Draper’s road to the final was paved with impressive victories, including a statement win over two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals. His run at Indian Wells also saw him defeat rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca, American Jenson Brooksby, and seeded opponents Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.
This triumph propels Draper to a career-high world ranking of No. 7 and makes him just the fifth British man in history to win an ATP Masters 1000 title, joining the likes of Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski, Andy Murray, and Cameron Norrie.
Reflecting on his journey, Draper spoke candidly about the sacrifices and challenges he has faced, from injuries to mental battles that tested his resolve.
“I feel like I deserve this, in all honesty,” Draper said after his victory. “The amount of adversity I’ve been through, the sacrifices, the time and effort from the people around me—it all led to this moment. To know that I will be No. 7 in the world, I can’t even describe how much that means to me.”
Former British No. 1 Tim Henman also had kind words towards Draper: “Absolutely brilliant performance. It’s been building for a long time, and to see him take apart Rune like that—it’s a day he’ll never forget.”
With this breakthrough victory, Draper has solidified his status as a major contender on the ATP Tour. Having already reached a Grand Slam semi-final at the 2024 US Open, this latest achievement only fuels expectations that he will continue to challenge for the sport’s biggest titles.
