Carlos Alcaraz ended his Indian Wells streak on 16 victories, falling to Jack Draper within the semi-final. The Briton ousted the Spaniard 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 in an hour and 44 minutes, reaching his first Masters 1000 remaining.
Alcaraz performed method beneath his greatest, taking the second set with a bagel however falling within the decider. World no. 3 described the loss as a tricky one, feeling nervous on the court docket and struggling to current his A-game.
With Alcaraz shedding to Draper, it’s value stating how tough it’s to win Indian Wells 3 occasions in a row and the way insanely spectacular it was that Novak Djokovic did it.
2014: 🏆2015: 🏆2016: 🏆pic.twitter.com/hwU5h7sreI
— Danny 🐊 (@DjokovicFan_) March 16, 2025
The returners took just one recreation within the opening two units. They shared them in 55 minutes earlier than Draper stepped in and claimed the decider with a double break on his tally. Each gamers confronted points of their video games.
Draper confronted eight of 9 break level within the second set. He skilled a bagel however bounced again within the decider. The Briton claimed 44% of the return factors and offered 5 breaks in units one and three.
Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
The defending champion hit 26 winners and 29 unforced errors. Draper produced extra lowered numbers, outplaying world no. 3 in service winners and from the baseline. Jack took cost and dominated the opening set with a fantastic efficiency on serve and return.
Carlos hit a double fault within the second recreation and skilled a break at love. He stepped onto the court docket with out confidence, and a shaky begin made issues even worse. The Briton served effectively in video games three and 5 and moved 4-1 in entrance after 16 minutes.
Carlos Alcaraz, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
Draper made one other push on the return within the sixth recreation, firing a forehand crosscourt winner for a 5-1 benefit. The lower-ranked participant fired a service winner in recreation seven, holding at love and transferring 6-1 up after 23 minutes.
After a fluid opener, the second set noticed extra deuces and drama. Alcaraz stepped in and claimed the pivotal factors, delivering a bagel and gathering a lift. Carlos saved a break level within the first recreation and generated 4 alternatives on the return within the subsequent one.
The Spaniard transformed the final after the rival’s double fault, securing his first break and forging the benefit. Alcaraz held for 3-0 and offered one other break within the subsequent one after Draper’s forehand error. The defending champion held for 5-0 and made one other push on the return within the subsequent one.
Carlos Alcaraz & Jack Draper, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
Carlos hit a backhand down the road return winner on the third set level, offering a bagel and gathering a lift forward of the decider. Jack left that setback behind and served effectively within the opening three video games of the ultimate set.
He broke Alcaraz at 15 within the third recreation with a backhand winner, transferring in entrance and gaining confidence. Draper served effectively in video games 4 and 6 for a 4-2 benefit. The Spaniard skilled one other setback within the seventh recreation.
Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
The defending champion wasted 5 recreation factors and misplaced serve after a compelled error to seek out himself 5-2 down. Jack served for the win in recreation eight and suffered a break at 15, lacking an opportunity to earn a notable victory.
Alcaraz held in recreation 9 with a service winner, decreasing the hole to 5-4. A left-hander served for the win in recreation ten and landed a forehand winner for 30-15. He created two match factors with a service winner and landed one other on the primary to seal the deal and safe a notable victory.
Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
“I have to admit; this loss hurts. Losing a match is never easy, but this one was very special for me. It was tough, with a lot of nerves on the table. What could I have done better? I should have played my tennis and step on the court less nervious.
That would have made a difference,” Carlos Alcaraz mentioned.