In the illustrious history of the ATP Indian Wells Masters, 2025 is destined to be remembered as Britain's Jack Draper writes his own legend here.
Draper entered the tournament as the No. 13 seed with a first-round bye, and then embarked on a game-shaking tennis title. Draper became only the fifth player in British tennis history to reach the top 10 of the ATP rankings by his outstanding performances at the tournament, not only because of his strong mental qualities, but also because of his unique and well-rounded technical characteristics.
Draper's bottom-line skills are superb. That advantage was evident in the second round against Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca. Fonseca is a promising new generation of potential players who have made a name for themselves in junior events, and after moving professionally, he has made a name for himself with his excellent movement and baseline attack. However, Draper, with his steady and accurate baseline holding, is always able to return the ball to difficult positions for opponents to handle. His forehand and backhand were both penetrating and kept him under pressure, leading him to a straight set 6-4, 6-0.
In the third round against American John Brooksby, who had a strong forehand firepower, Draper's technical versatility played a key role. Not only does he not fall behind in the baseline attack, but he can also move with nimble footwork at the right time to play tricky line changes. He is also very good at returning the ball, effectively breaking down Brooksby's powerful serve and creating opportunities for his own attack. In this fierce battle, Draper won 7-5, 6-4 with more consistent play and courage in key moments.
In the fourth round against No. 3 seed Taylor Fritz, Draper showed excellent tactical execution. Fritz was at the top of his serve and attacking ability, while Draper began to organize an effective attack when he received the serve through aggressive movement and accurate anticipation. He is adept at using his chipping ball to change the tempo and disrupt Fritz's attacking rhythm, while also being decisive at the right time to score points with excellent net-front skills. In the end, he knocked out strong opponents with a score of 7-5, 6-4 and advanced to the quarterfinals.
In the quarter-finals against Ben Shelton, Draper's high-pressure ball skills were eye-catching. Shelton has a strong serve and netting skills, and often hits high-quality lobs. Faced with such situations, Draper always quickly judged where the ball landed, got to the right position in time, and delivered the killer a fatal blow with a precise and powerful high-pressure ball. In addition, he was able to flexibly change the line of action according to his opponent's position and hitting habits in the multi-shot hold on the baseline, and won again with a score of 6-4, 7-5.
Faced by superstar Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals, Draper's serve became a powerful weapon. Not only is his serve powerful, but he also has tricky angles, which can effectively suppress Alcaraz's return attack. In the baseline stalemate, his ability to return the ball quickly also made it difficult for Alcaraz to organize a fluid attack. He took the lead 6-1 in the first set, and although he was pulled back 0-6 in the second set, he eliminated Alcaraz 6-4 in the deciding set with his tenacious defense and efficient attack.
Facing 12th seed Holger Rune in the final, Draper had his skills in perfect harmony. He controls the game with a varied cadence, sometimes speeding up the tempo of the attack, and squeezing his opponents with fast and powerful shots; Slowing down the tempo at times, he moves Rune with clever cuts and short balls. With his outstanding performance, he won the championship in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2, and completed a magnificent turn from a dark horse to a king.
Draper's victory at the Indian Wells Masters was not only the highlight of his career, but also the perfect showcase of his versatility and skill to the history of British tennis.
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