Jack Draper achieves unique milestone after cementing Indian Wells final spot

Britain’s Jack Draper has achieved a unique milestone after reaching the final of the Indian Wells. The ATP 1000 event is set to conclude on Monday with the final of the men’s singles category between the 23-year-old and Denmark’s Holger Rune.

Draper defeated world number three Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal of the competition with a score of 6-1, 0-6, 6-4. On the other hand, Rune got the better of the one-time Grand Slam winner Daniil Medvedev in the semifinal in straight sets with a score of 7-5, 6-4.

With that win, Draper achieved a unique milestone as he became only the fifth British player in the history of men’s tennis to cement a place in the final of an ATP 1000 event. Before him, only four British men’s players had achieved that feat in their respective careers — Cameron Norrie, Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman, and Andy Murray.

Out of those, Murray has been by far the most successful player, as he played in the final of an ATP 1000 event 21 times. Henman was featured in the final four times, Rusedski played in the final two times, and Norrie played in the grand finale of a mega-event just once.

Talking after the match, Draper admitted that it was a ‘strange match’ but also expressed satisfaction over his competitiveness and attitude, especially after losing the second set without winning a game.

“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.”

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