Jack Draper feeling confident ahead of Indian Wells semifinal showdown with Carlos Alcaraz - "Honestly, I can beat anyone"

Saturday, 15 March 2025 at 04:30

Tennis star Jack Draper will face one of his biggest challenges of the 2025 season, as the British player is set to square off against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 Indian Wells tournament.

Draper has slowly ascended the ATP ranks over the past year, and reached a career-high ranking of World No.12 in February 2025. The 23-year old upset World No.4 Taylor Fritz in the round of 16 in Indian Wells, before taking out Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals.

Confidence is key, says Draper

Following his victory over fellow lefty Shelton, Draper was asked to give his thoughts on reaching his maiden ATP Masters semifinal. The Sutton native was proud of his accomplishment, and stated he and his team were trying to equip him with the tools to take on any opponent.

"My coach and I believe that if I put my game on the court and do things right, honestly, I can beat anyone," said Draper. "Obviously, we know that at these levels, margins are very small, but there are still a couple of tactical things we can adjust to defeat the best. Perhaps discovering where an opponent likes to serve more, or seeing where I need to position myself for the return, but here everyone is so good at beating each other.
"The point is to go out and give it your all, we try our best to execute our game plan, that's where we start from. In my case, if I give my 100%, I am at peace, that is all I can do."

Read also

When asked how he felt facing Alcaraz in the next round, Draper revealed he was looking forward to once again locking horns with the reigning Wimbledon champion.

"He is a great champion, doing incredible things in tennis, so good for the sport... but not only for the players, but also for the spectators to watch." admitted Draper. "He is setting a very high benchmark, which is very good for a player like me, because I see him and can play against him, I need to be at his level and hopefully compete for big tournaments.
"I love having the opportunity to face Carlos again, I think we make a great combination, he brings a lot on the court, especially in these conditions. It will be another great opportunity to prove that I belong among the top players."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BNP Paribas Open (@bnpparibasopen)

Arthur Ajayi

Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.

As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.

With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.

See author's posts

claps 0visitors 0

"You never want to lose three times in a row against the same player" - Holger Rune relieved after first win over Tallon Griekspoor

"It can be done easily" - Rick Macci pinpoints changes in Coco Gauff's game that could vault the American to World No.1