ATP Indian Wells 2026 Round-Up | Jack Draper's title defence lives on in marathon Djokovic tie-break epic as Alcaraz stars against Ruud

The title defence lives on for Jack Draper who has prevailed in an absolute epic against Novak Djokovic winning through 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 to reach the Quarter-Finals at Indian Wells.

A two and a half hour clinic which either could've won with Draper showing incredible level while Djokovic as ever in his twilight showing he is not letting up but it is the young Brit showing that he still has the game amid his injury travails since winning Indian Wells last year.

Draper was game throughout the contest and for both it was very much not much in terms of opportunities from either side. Draper has shown a great level this week in his title defence for a player who has barely played since the middle of last year and did not allow Djokovic to dictate the play at all. But Djokovic's pressure told initially. He broke once in the opening set right at the end of the set.

Neither player remotely got close to a break with 40-0 and 40-15 often the score but Djokovic managed to turn the tide and rampantly eased through the motions. He forced Draper into errors and managed to take the first set 6-4.

The second saw Draper break immediately to take a 1-0 lead. He surged 1-0 up and then held for 2-0. He seemed to be in the ascendancy at 3-1 up but Djokovic came back and timely put it back on serve again as he broke after Draper was 30-15 and 40-30 up on Djokovic and he made it 3-3. He then held for 4-3 to consolidate. Draper's serve was under duress again but Djokovic was never handed a break chance despite the prolonged nature of the game but Draper was on the Djokovic serve as he went 40-0 up.

Amid it looking like Djokovic was going to perhaps head towards the finishing line first, Draper said another set perhaps. He broke for 5-4 and was serving for the set. Despite having one break point after that, he was pegged back so into a decider we went and ironically the first game of the decider summed up the late night feel as it went nearly 15 minutes and Djokovic eventually held amid a break chance going begging for Draper.

Draper though did break to go 2-1 up and he followed it up with a huge hold for Draper as he came from 30-0 down to win the game 40-30 and he was now 3-1 up. Swift hold for Draper followed and he was 4-2 up with Djokovic serving for 4-3 down. Djokovic did get it but Draper was suddenly one away and he looked to serve it out at 5-4.

But it was a horror show for Draper who couldn't get first serves in and was a bit desperate and as expected Djokovic took full advantage. Djokovic held for 6-5 but we went onto a tie-break. Draper led that 3-1 but Djokovic turned it around to 4-3. A poor drop shot from Djokovic and an excellent winner down the line from Draper and he was 5-4 up though and on his first match point he finally won.

Daniil Medvedev now awaits the winner. He played utterly lights out tennis as he rampantly saw off Alex Michelsen 6-2, 6-4.

Medvedev perhaps could've rested on his laurels this week given that he came from Dubai where he won the title then got caught up in trying to actually leave the country via a flight from Oman and a late start but in reality he might actually be favourite to reach the semi-final.

No player has got more than four games in a set against him since Dubai and he is a two-time runner-up in this tournament. Win streak maintained and it is the Quarter-Finals for the fourth consecutive year.

Perhaps though the most impressive was a certain Carlos Alcaraz who was irresistible as he took down Casper Ruud earlier in the piece.

The World No.1 proved further evidence of his prowess as he secured a 6-1, 7-6 victory snuffing out a tie-break in the end to move through. He made a blistering start in the growing Californian heat before managing to win a war of adversity in the second in a match that not only tested him but also showed why he is top dog.

Alcaraz produced a bag of tricks but also hiss superb game as he lobbed Ruud twice before being authoritative across the whole court. Alcaraz sent Ruud on the run throughout with exquisite groundstrokes and managed to maintain constant pressure on the Norwegian. He also has reached five quarter-finals at Indian Wells at only 23. A pretty remarkable feat.

“My first set was unplayable, to be honest,” Alcaraz said. “I’m just really happy about playing that kind of level. I’m really happy to get through and hopefully [I can] play at this level in the next round.

“I think I can have fun and enjoy, but I can also turn my mind and focus again. I try to play my best tennis on every point, but when a point deserves a smile, I gotta do that. That’s what happened today. Casper played some great points, and I had to enjoy that. That’s why we both play tennis.”

Standing now between Alcaraz and the semi-finals will be Cameron Norrie. The Brit battled back for a three-set victory when they met in October last year in Paris and this time it was Rinky Hijikata in a 6-4, 6-2 win for Norrie.