Jack Draper stuns Novak Djokovic in Indian Wells thriller; Carlos Alcaraz marches into quarters

Britain’s Jack Draper pulled off one of the biggest wins of his career by knocking out former champion Novak Djokovic in a gripping three-set battle to reach the quarter-finals of Indian Wells Masters on Wednesday.

Draper prevailed 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in a tense slugfest that saw the British left-hander outlast the 38-year-old Serbian legend in a physically demanding third set. The result denied Djokovic his first return to the Indian Wells quarter-finals since he captured his fifth title at the tournament in 2016.

“I came out here tonight and I won that match through determination and trying to problem-solve and do my best and have a great attitude,” Draper said after the win, which came in only his second tournament back following a long layoff due to an arm injury.

The contest was finely balanced through the opening two sets, but a marathon rally in the first game of the decider proved pivotal. Both players scrambled across the court chasing drop shots and lobs before Djokovic sealed the point with an overhead winner, collapsing on the court in exhaustion.

“One point,” Djokovic said when reflecting on the moment. “It was great winning that point in that game, but I just ran completely out of gas.”

Draper soon broke Djokovic’s serve but failed to close out the match at 5-4. The Serbian briefly sensed an opportunity when he surged to a 4-3 lead in the tiebreak.

“He played a sloppy game to close it out 5-4… I got the crowd backing me and felt the energy,” Djokovic said. “It was, like, maybe Im gonna take this one. It was so, so close.”

But Draper held his nerve to seal the upset and set up a quarter-final clash with Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Alex Michelsen 6-2, 6-4.

Elsewhere, world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz continued his dominant start to the season with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) victory over Casper Ruud.

“My first set, I think I was unplayable to be honest,” Alcaraz said after extending his unbeaten 2026 run to 15 matches. The Spaniard will next face Britain’s Cameron Norrie, who beat Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 6-2.

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