Jack Draper enters ATP top 10 after breakthrough win as Alex de Minaur drops out
Jack Draper overwhelmed Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in a little more than an hour in the final of the BNP Paribas Open on Monday morning (AEDT), achieving two big milestones by claiming his first Masters 1000 title and earning his debut in the ATP's top 10.
The 23-year-old British star was seeded 13th at the hard-court tournament and hit 21 winners against Rune in the final, while also making fewer unforced errors.
Draper's left-handed serve was particularly important, hitting 10 aces, winning 21 of his 23 first-serve points and never allowing Rune to earn a single break point.
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Jack Draper celebrates his win at Indian Wells. Getty
“You never know when it's your time,” Draper said post-match.
“I lost first round here last year, so I didn't get to experience the tournament too much. ... But I'd say this is one of my favourite tournaments now, of course.”
He will rise from No.14 to a career-high No.7 in the rankings after the result.
“I feel like I deserve it," Draper said.
“I wasn’t expecting this. I put in a lot of work over time," Draper said. "I’m just so grateful and so happy to ... be able to play, my body feeling healthy and to feel great in the mind.”
The result will see Australian star Alex de Minaur drop out of the top 10, having been bundled out in the round of 16 by Francisco Cerundolo.
Alex de Minaur during his loss to Francisco Cerundolo. Getty
De Minaur made the quarter finals at his home grand slam earlier this year and followed it up by making the final at the Rotterdam Open, falling to Carlos Alcaraz.
In the women's draw at Indian Wells, 17-year-old sensation Mirra Andreeva collected her second consecutive Masters 1000 title by getting past No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.
