indian wells
Draper beats Djokovic in Indian Wells thriller
The defending champion and five-time champion will deliver one of the best rallies you will ever see
March 12, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper enjoyed a warm moment at the net following their three-set showdown in Indian Wells on Wednesday night.
Grant Thompson
Jack Draper recorded one of the best wins of his career in dramatic fashion at the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday. The Briton continued his defense of the ATP Masters 1000 title with a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) win over five-time champion Novak Djokovic, which has seen Draper reach the quarter-finals.
Playing in his second ATP Tour event since last August’s U.S. Open, the southpaw failed to win 5-4 in the deciding set, adding drama to an already entertaining battle in which both players pushed each other to their physical limits.
“I came out here tonight and I won this game through determination, working through things, doing the best I could and having a good attitude,” Draper said in an on-court interview.
“I’m proud of the way I’ve regrouped. I haven’t been on tour yet [in] It’s been a long time, so to give up those top players, it’s a confidence thing. It was a tough moment for me but I’ve gotten used to it since I’ve been back and I’ve readjusted well. That’s something I’m really proud of. “
Draper and Djokovic traded blows from the baseline, the highlight of which came in the first game of the decider when Djokovic won a stunning 26-shot duel at 30-all – a duel that will undoubtedly rank among the best of the season. The rally earned a standing ovation from the crowd and set the tone for the rest of the game. Draper and Djokovic engaged in a grueling standoff that only grew longer as the night wore on.
The Serb was at times visibly struggling to regain his breath after several lengthy rallies. Draper, meanwhile, raised his game, hitting the ball with more power and not yielding in the heat of battle. Draper served for a 5-4 lead in the deciding set, with Djokovic eventually breaking at 0-40, but the 24-year-old bounced back quickly and kept his cool in the deciding set tie-break.
“It’s been very exciting for me to be out on the court again these past few weeks and I’m really grateful,” Draper said. “To be here against Novak, who to me is the greatest tennis player in the world and someone I’ve admired and followed since I was a kid. I’m extremely proud of myself for that.”
With the win, Draper improves to 1-1 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series against 101st Tour Champion Djokovic. Wednesday’s match is their first meeting since Wimbledon 2021, when Draper was outside the top 200 in the PIF ATP rankings.
Last season, Draper had the best year of his career, reaching a career-high fourth place in the PIF ATP Rankings. However, the three-time Tour winner ended his season prematurely with an arm injury in September. Draper returned to action last month to compete in the Davis Cup against Norway before competing in the ATP 500 event in Dubai.
Now, the No. 14 seed faces the pressure of defending the biggest title of his career, and he’s passing the test with flying colors. Draper’s next opponent is two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev, who defeated American Alex Michelson 6-2, 6-4. Medvedev defeated Draper in their only meeting in Rome two years ago.
Djokovic aims to join rivals Roger Federer (13) and Rafael Nadal (12) as the only men’s players in the tournament’s history to reach the quarterfinals of Indian Wells 10 times. The 38-year-old leaves California with a 7-2 season record, according to the Infosys ATP Win-Loss Index. Djokovic reached the Australian Open final, losing only to world number one Carlos Alcaraz.
