Jack Draper’s coach, James Trotman backed the Brit No. 1 to compete with the world’s best ahead of the Indian Wells semi-finals, where he will face 4-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, who is also the 2-time defending champion at Tennis Garden.
Undoubtedly, it will be a tough challenge for the world No. 14, although he has already pulled off upsets against Alcaraz. It happened at last year’s Queen’s Club Championships on grass, a noteworthy feat against a 2-time Wimbledon champion with an impressive 24-3 record (90%) on the surface.
Their records are quite similar when comparing Alcaraz's numbers at Indian Wells. The Spaniard has claimed two titles, boasts a 20-2 record (91%), and has been impressive this week, eliminating rivals such as Denis Shapovalov (28th seed), Grigor Dimitrov (14th), and Francisco Cerundolo (25th).
High expectations surround Draper, especially from his coach, James Trotman. The British coach retired early from professional tennis due to injuries shortly after winning a couple of junior Grand Slam doubles titles (Wimbledon 1995, Australian Open 1997).
Trotman declared in an interview with Sky Sports that Draper’s recent success is the result of hard work and dedication, especially from the second half of 2024 onwards. “I think a lot of hard work has gone on in those years, a lot of game development which we are always focusing on," he said. “I think he has started to believe a lot more in himself, he feels like he belongs at this level and can perform with the best players, on the biggest stage.”
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Draper is just one step away from securing his debut in the top 10, though he will need a victory over Alcaraz in these semi-finals. Trotman praised the Brit No. 1's incredible year: “It’s been a fantastic start to 2025, but there have been limited tournaments, still. He picked up a little niggle in the off-season and had a great run down in Australia – considering the lack of tennis he had – final in Doha, and again in the semis here.”
“So, when he’s performing, he’s been performing well, but it would be nice to get a few more tournaments under the belt and I think the bigger picture stuff, we’re going to keep working on his body, keep making the right decisions around what he needs at the time.”
Jack Draper at 2024 Japan Open.
Trotman has been working with Draper since the end of 2021 when he was coaching at the LTA, and the young player was taking his first steps on the ATP Tour, already ranked in the top 250 at just 19 years old. “I remember watching him on a trip to Spain in those early days. He was unbelievably competitive, but he was up and down emotionally and also on the court. It was like an emotional roller-coaster watching him compete.”
The current world No. 14 is making his first appearance in a Masters 1000 semi-final – although he had previously reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam at last year’s US Open. With far less experience than his rival, Draper will need to bring his best tennis to pull off an upset. “Look, he’s going to have to serve well, there’s no doubt about it,” Trotman commented.
“If Jack’s serve is firing, it’s a weapon against anybody in the world, and, if he can build pressure through that, it’s going to help his chances and help him relax, let him play a little bit more aggressively.”
“Certainly against Carlos [Alcaraz], he’s not the sort of player where you want to drop your ball speed too much and allow him to dictate and get his physicality onto court,” he concluded.
Match Info
Start time (local): Sat, 15 Mar, 2:40 PM
Start time (your time): Sun, 16 Mar, 5:40 AM
Court: Stadium 1
Tournament: BNP Paribas Open
Round: Semifinal
Head-to-Head
| Draper | Alcaraz | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 1 | 3 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 1 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 14 | 3 |
| Race Ranking | 17 | 4 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 11 (+3) | 3 |
| Live Race Ranking | 7 (+11) | 3 (+1) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 23 (22 Dec 2001) | 21 (5 May 2003) |
| Birthplace | Sutton, London, UK | El Palmar, Murcia, Spain |
| Residence | London, UK | Villena, Alicante, Spain |
| Height | 6'2" (188cm) | 6'0" (183cm) |
| Weight | 165lbs (75kg) | 163lbs (74kg) |
| Plays | Left-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | - | 2018 |
| Coach | James Trotman (2021–present) | Juan Carlos Ferrero (2019–), Samuel López (2024–) |
| YTD W/L | 11-1 (92%) | 14-2 (88%) |
| YTD Titles | - | 1 |
| Career Titles | 2 | 17 |
| Prize Money | US $5,436,539 | US $38,728,388 - 9th all-time in earnings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
C Alcaraz d J Draper Australian Open - Round of 167-5 | 6-1 19 Jan 2025 |
||
|
J Draper d C Alcaraz ATP London - Round of 167-6 | 6-3 20 Jun 2024 |
||
|
C Alcaraz d J Draper ATP Indian Wells - Round of 166-2 | 2-0 15 Mar 2023 |
||
|
C Alcaraz d J Draper ATP Basel - Round of 323-6 | 6-2 | 7-5 24 Oct 2022 |
||
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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