7 hours ago
9
Jack Draper was “overwhelmed” after beating Novak Djokovic for the first time to reach the quarter-finals in Indian Wells and keep his title defence on track.
Playing only the second ATP tournament of his comeback after eight months out with an arm injury, Draper came through a gripping battle lasting more than two-and-a-half hours in a deciding tie-break to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
“It was a crazy match,” Draper told a press conference in California. “I think both of us gave it our all. I’m just overwhelmed to obviously beat Novak, someone I have watched and admired and idolised since I was a kid … just very grateful to be in this situation and go again tomorrow.”
Djokovic broke serve in the final game of the opening set and retrieved an early break in the second before Draper levelled the match.
The 38-year-old Serb began to look exhausted in the decider as a number of gruelling points took their toll and, having held serve in a riveting opening game that featured a 26-shot rally, Djokovic was then broken at the next time of asking.
Draper’s lack of recent matchplay showed as he played a poor game trying to serve out the match at 5-4 but he regrouped impressively and his first match point came in the tie-break when Djokovic netted a backhand.
The Briton, who will play in-form 11th seed Daniil Medvedev on Thursday evening, said: “I’m really proud of where I’m at with my game. I was saying to my coach I still think my level could be a lot better, to be honest. Not so much with the tennis but more my mentality on the court.
“It’s tough when you haven’t been on the match court for a while, especially against top, top players in the world. They make you feel uncomfortable.
“Even though today is a big win, it’s also a small win in my recovery and coming back to playing and being the type of player I want to become.”
Djokovic praised Draper’s performance, saying: “He’s playing really well. He’s confident and he was always confident and physically very fit – just overall a great player, great guy. I wish him all the best for the rest of the tournament.”
The British No 2 Cameron Norrie is also through to the quarter-finals after beating Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata, earning him another crack at the world No 1, Carlos Alcaraz.
The Spaniard is on a 15-match winning streak but Norrie has won three of their eight previous meetings, including their last one at the Paris Masters in October.
Sonay Kartal was unable to make it three British players through to the last eight, though, succumbing to the back problem that has dogged her this week in the second set of her match against Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina.
Kartal suffered the injury during her second-round match against Emma Navarro but managed to come through that one and also beat 15th seed Madison Keys in three sets before calling it a day trailing third seed Rybakina 6-4 4-3.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Kartal said: “Today it was unfortunately one match too many. [She’s] a super-tough opponent, so you need to be at your best. I was far from that but still managed to make it competitive.”
No 3 seed Rybakina will next face fifth seed Jessica Pegula while second seed Iga Swiatek breezed through to a meeting with Elina Svitolina.
