Draper Secures First Career Win Over Djokovic
British No 1 Jack Draper achieved a significant milestone by defeating Novak Djokovic for the first time in his career, maintaining his pursuit to defend his Indian Wells title. The 24-year-old Briton triumphed in a closely contested match that lasted over two and a half hours, prevailing 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the deciding tiebreak.
Djokovic claimed the opening set 6-4 after a hard-fought battle. Draper responded in the second set by converting a second break point in the opening game. Djokovic broke back, and Draper faced challenges in the eighth game when he was pushed from 40-0 to deuce but ultimately held serve.
Following this, Draper executed a powerful forehand winner down the line, earning three break points at 0-40. He converted the first break point when Djokovic netted a shot. Djokovic showed resilience by saving two set points before an ace allowed Draper to level the match.
In the final set, Djokovic appeared fatigued as several intense rallies took their toll. After holding serve in a thrilling opening game featuring a 26-shot rally, Djokovic fell behind 0-30 in his next service game. Draper then engaged in another lengthy exchange to earn two break points and secured a break. The 24-time Grand Slam champion frequently leaned on his racket between points, indicating exhaustion.
Despite this, Draper was unable to close out the match immediately. Serving for the match, he committed a wild backhand error, followed by a double fault and a weak drop shot into the net. Djokovic capitalized with a superb drop shot to claim the second break point.
Djokovic then sent a backhand long, granting Draper his first match point in the tiebreak. Djokovic’s subsequent backhand error sealed the victory for Draper, marking one of the most important wins of his career.
Sonay Kartal Retires Due to Injury in Indian Wells Last 16
Earlier in the tournament, British No 2 Sonay Kartal ended her Indian Wells run due to persistent back problems during her last 16 match against Elena Rybakina. Despite battling through pain to secure notable victories over Emma Navarro and Madison Keys, Kartal retired while trailing 6-4, 4-3.
Kartal was broken early in the third game and fell two breaks behind after a video review showed her top made contact with the net at a break point in the fifth game. Nevertheless, she fought back to earn a break, even as she required physio treatment between games. Kartal pressured Rybakina’s serve but the Kazakhstani held to take the first set.
The second set proceeded on serve until Kartal, stretching for a return while facing break point at 3-3, visibly experienced discomfort and proceeded to the net to concede the match.
“Definitely not the way I wanted to finish the match, of course [I wish her a] speedy recovery,” Rybakina said in a courtside interview broadcast on Sky Sports. “It’s not easy these kind of injuries. It was a tough match anyway... I’m glad I’m through to the next one.”
