Changing of the guard? Jack Draper defeats Andy Murray in his first meeting in Indian Wells in straight sets, as the 21-year-old faces US Open champion and top seed Carlos Alcaraz.
Jack Draper rallied from set point down to beat veteran Andy Murray 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 in the third round in Indian Wells.
The 21-year-old defeated the former world No. 1 in straight sets in their first ATP meeting after a dominating performance in the second set, with the first going to a tiebreaker.
As a result, Draper will now face top seed and reigning US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 to reach the fourth round.
Draper broke the Scotsman early in the first set to take a 2-1 lead, but Murray earned his own break and set point, which was later recovered by his opponent before the tiebreak.
At the end of a mammoth first set, the tiebreaker was hotly contested until Draper sealed an 8-6 win to take the opener on 83 minutes, before a much more comfortable second that was dominated by serve.
Andy Murray was beaten 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 by compatriot Draper after earning set point in the first set.
Draper will now face Spanish US Open champion and top seed Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round.
Draper, in particular, served well in the second set, in which only two points went to the receiver in the first five games, and he was strong in his approach to the net game winning 18 of a possible 26 points (69 percent). .
“I’ve looked up to Andy since I was very young,” Draper revealed after the game. “I saw him win Wimbledon for the first time in 2013 and then had the opportunity to meet him and practice with him often since 2019.”
He is a really special person, a great champion, a great human being and I have the privilege of playing against him on this court.
‘I want to keep trying to impose my game and use my weapons.
‘It’s not easy in these conditions. It’s pretty slow tonight, the wind was a bit swirly and obviously playing against Andy, it makes it incredibly uncomfortable for you. It’s something I’m looking to improve with my coach and it’s definitely starting to pay off a bit more.”
Draper came into the match on the back of another victory over a British opponent, having beaten Dan Evans 6-4, 6-2, with the 6-foot-3-inch 21-year-old debuting at the tournament.
However, Murray and Draper embraced at the net, with the pair clearly sharing a good relationship off the court despite their age difference.
The three-time Grand Slam winner now faces a bye week before his next tournament, the Miami Open, where he has been crowned the overall winner twice.
Draper could match his best finish at an ATP Masters 1000 event with a win over Alcaraz
Draper faces perhaps a tougher test in the next round against Alcaraz, but a win could see him equal his record at an ATP Masters 1000 event after reaching the Cincinnati Masters quarterfinals in 2022.
The Spaniard beat Griekspoor to set up their fourth round encounter, having outpointed dangerous Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 6-3 in the previous round.
But Draper seemed unfazed by the task, despite losing their previous meeting 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in Basel.
Beating Dan and Andy is all the confidence I would need for that match,” Draper added. “Carlos is another level up, he’s been world number 1, he had an outstanding year last year, so it would be amazing to play him again in another battle royale.”