Draper sees off Alcaraz, sets up Rune showdown at Indian Wells

Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, was on a 16-match winning streak at the event, but he fell short to the Brit in the semi-finals.

Draper triumphed 6-1 0-6 6-4 in one hour and 44 minutes, sealing his place in a maiden ATP Masters 1000 final and ensuring he will go into the top 10 next week.

“It was a strange match in all honesty,” said Draper.

"Carlos came out a little flat, I sensed that. I had a chance in the first game of the second, and he came up with an ace.

"What happened to him happened to me, I got tight, I had low energy. Against the top players in the world, they can change their momentum very quickly.

"I got lost out there for 25 minutes, but in the third, I was really proud of my competitiveness, my attitude and I somehow managed to get over the line.”

23, 83 - Since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973, Jack Draper (23y 83d) is now the youngest Brit to claim multiple ATP top five wins at a single event, surpassing Andy Murray (23y 92d, Toronto 2010). Watershed.#TennisParadise | @BNPPARIBASOPEN @atptour @ATPMediaInfo pic.twitter.com/dJvQUXfIM6

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) March 16, 2025

Alcaraz was hoping to become the first player born in 1991 or later to claim three straight titles at an ATP Tour-level tournament, but must now regroup ahead of the Miami Open.

Draper, who lost to Andrey Rublev in the final of the Qatar Open last month, will take on Holger Rune in Sunday's final.

Since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973, Draper (aged 23 years and 83 days) is now the youngest Brit to claim multiple ATP top five wins at a single event, surpassing Andy Murray (23 years 92 days in Toronto in 2010). He also defeated Taylor Fritz in the round of 16.