Jack Draper takes down Novak Djokovic in a tough Indian Wells match | ATP Tour
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Draper takes down Djokovic in a tough Indian Wells match
The defending champion and five-time title holder produces one of the best meetings you will ever see
March 12, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper enjoy a warm moment after their three-set match on Wednesday evening in Indian Wells.
Written by Grant Thompson
Jack Draper won one of the best medals of his career on Wednesday at the BNP Paribas Open in stunning fashion. The Briton defeated five-time champion Novak Djokovic 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) to continue his title defense at the ATP Masters 1000 event, where Draper entered the quarter-finals.
Entering his second ATP Tour event since the US Open last August, the left-hander lost 5-4 to Mayer, adding drama to an already impressive battle, with both players pushing each other to their physical limits.
“I came out here tonight and won that game with determination and trying to solve problems and doing my best and having a good attitude,” Draper said in his courtroom interview.
“I’m proud of the way I regrouped, I wasn’t playing on the Tour [in] for a long time, so throwing away guys who are top players, it’s something that comes with confidence. It was a difficult time for me, but again, it’s something I’ve gotten used to since I came back and I regrouped very well. It’s something I can be really proud of.”
Draper and Djokovic traded hard hitting from the start, the highlight coming in the pair’s opening match at 30-all when Djokovic won a stunning 26-shot run – an exchange that will undoubtedly be among the best of the season. That rally, which drew applause from the crowd, set the tone for the entire game. Draper and Djokovic engaged in heated exchanges that grew longer as the night wore on.
The Serbian seemed to be struggling at times to regain his composure after several extended rallies. During that time, Draper improved his quality, hitting the ball with increasing power and refusing to let the heat of the battle. Djokovic took a 0/40 lead when Draper served for 5-4 at atom, eventually getting a break, but the 24-year-old quickly got back on his feet and held his own in the decider.
“Being back on the court these past few weeks has been emotional for me and I’m very grateful for that,” said Draper. “To come out here against Novak, for me the greatest tennis player of all time, someone I’ve loved and watched since I was a little kid. To do that, I’m incredibly proud.”
With his win, Draper improved to 1-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with 101-time tour-ranked Djokovic. Wednesday’s clash marked their first meeting since Wimbledon in 2021, with Draper outside the Top 200 of the PIF ATP Rankings.
Last season, Draper enjoyed a career-best year where he reached a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings. However, the three-time tour-ranked list ended his season prematurely in September due to an arm injury. Draper returned to competition last month in a Davis Cup match against Norway before playing in the ATP 500 event in Dubai.
Now with pressure to defend his biggest career title, the 14th seed passes the test with flying colours. Next up for Draper is two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev, who defeated American Alex Michelsen 6-2, 6-4. Medvedev beat Draper in their only meeting two years ago in Rome.
Djokovic was aiming to join rivals Roger Federer (13) and Rafael Nadal (12) as the only men to reach 10 Indian Wells quarterfinals in the tournament’s history. The 38-year-old leaves California with a 7-2 season record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Djokovic reached the final of the Australian Open, falling to World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
