Britain’s Jack Draper defeated Denmark’s Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 to collect the biggest title of his career Sunday at Indian Wells, assuring a place in the top 10 for the first time.
Draper has battled a lingering hip issue this year but looked fine in the BNP Paribas Open final as he zipped around the court with ease, firing 21 winners to cap a superb week in the California desert.
“I lost first round here last year so I didn’t get to experience the tournament too much,” Draper said. “I would say this is one of my favorite tournaments now.”
Rune, playing in his fourth Masters 1000 final, had the experience but couldn’t find his rhythm as he had seven winners and 18 unforced errors.
Draper was playing in his first 1000-level final. He bludgeoned his opponent with seven aces in the first set, having hit a forehand winner to break in the first game, and outfoxed Rune at the net in the third to go up another break.
Rune’s frustrations boiled over early in the second set, when he shouted at his team before dropping serve in the first game. He handed Draper another break in the penultimate game with a backhand shot that he sent wide.
Draper fired a booming forehand shot across the net to clinch the match and smiled toward the stands before kneeling on court with his fists thrust into the air in celebration.
Holger made no excuses for his performance, telling the crowd: “It never feels nice not to be able to step over the line, but that’s life sometimes.”
Draper did not have an easy path to the final, beating 2022 winner Taylor Fritz in the round of 16 before facing two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals.
He is the first Briton to win the title since Cameron Norrie in 2021 and is expected to rise to No. 7 in the world.
“I have put in a lot of work over time and I’m so grateful to be out here, with my body healthy and feeling great in the mind,” Draper, who lost in last month’s Doha final, told Sky Sports. “It feels like it is all coming together on the big stage.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
