Jack Draper is becoming a force to be reckoned with. Once hailed to take on Andy Murray’s legacy, he’s proving his caliber by overcoming injury and health concerns. On Saturday, he ousted two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, setting up a thrilling match that ended 6-1, 0-6, 6-4. This victory paved the way for his first Masters 1000 final against Holger Rune! However, it wasn’t an easy battle for the Briton, but he kept his head up, taking down each of his toughest opponents to make it this far. Brad Gilbert is certainly pleased. What’s he got to say about the “Mad Man” now?
Draper’s journey at Indian Wells was incredible. He breezed past Joao Fonseca, then faced Jenson Brooksby, who had been off the court for nearly two years. Draper averted what could have been his lowest-ranked Tour defeat by winning 7-5, 6-4. He trailed 1-4 but found his rhythm to improve his record against players outside the Top 50. Next, he dominated Taylor Fritz, the No. 4 seed and 2022 champion, winning 91% of his first-serve points.
Draper’s next challenge was Ben Shelton, a fellow lefty with a powerful serve. Both sought their first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal. Draper took the opening set with a single break and battled back from 0-3 in the second set. Shelton struggled with consistency, hitting five double faults, including two in a crucial game at 5-5. Draper capitalized on this to edge Shelton 6-4, 7-5. Lastly, he took down Alcaraz to make his way into his first Indian Wells final. Coco Gauff’s former coach was elated!
On March 16, Brad Gilbert, who coached Gauff until September 2024, expressed his joy for Draper on X, writing, “What a tournament for Mad Man Draper started with good win over Joseca 3 Americans then yesterday escape from Alcaraz, been so impressed with his movement and defense especially for his size, also seems to be serving bigger then I’ve seen before ” Praising Draper for overcoming his struggles with health and showing up as a dominant player.
what a tournament for Mad Man Draper started with good win over Joseca 3 Americans then yesterday escape from Alcaraz, been so impressed with his movement and defense especially for his size, also seems to be serving bigger then i’ve seen before
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) March 16, 2025
He previously praised Draper’s improved movement and defense, noting, “Mad man Draper has improved in his movement and defense a lot very impressive for his size ” A fan raised doubts about Draper’s physical form, but Brad agreed it was all about “staying healthy,” replying, “1000%.” Draper seems to be taking matters into his own hands as he makes his way into the Top 10 and his first Masters 1000 final. After losing the second set to Alcaraz, he had a pep talk with himself during the changeovers.
Draper gets candid about how he pushed himself to win against Alcaraz
On Saturday, the British No. 1 stunned Carlos Alcaraz in the Indian Wells semi-finals on Saturday, securing a thrilling 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 victory. This win not only marked Draper’s first ATP Masters 1000 final but also snapped Alcaraz’s 16-match winning streak at the event. However, unlike his previous matches where he won in straight sets, the Spaniard put up more of a challenge. Speaking to the Indian Wells Press, he acknowledged that fatigue was creeping up on him.
“It was a strange match in all honesty,” Draper reflected after the match. “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.” Despite dominating the first set, Draper’s energy dropped significantly in the second, losing it 6-0. He admitted, “I felt like my energy really dropped. I kind of felt a bit lethargic and my legs stopped working.” But Draper didn’t let that setback define him. After the second set, he took a moment to regroup, literally looking in the mirror and telling himself, “You need to really get your stuff together.”
The third set was a nail-biter, with Draper claiming two breaks of serve to go up 5-2. Alcaraz fought back, reducing the deficit to 5-4, but Draper held his nerve to serve for the match successfully at the second attempt. With this win, Jack Draper will debut in the Top 10 rankings on Monday. Additionally, all eyes are on his final against Holger Rune. Can Draper pull off another surprise victory? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The post “Bigger Than I’ve Seen Before,” Coco Gauff’s Ex-Coach Dodges American ATP Stars to Flaunt Jack Draper’s Dominance appeared first on EssentiallySports.