Britain’s Jack Draper wins the biggest title of his career after demolishing Denmark’s Holger Rune in straight sets in the Indian Wells final.
From start to finish it rarely looked in doubt for Draper, who at 23, has announced himself amongst the best tennis players in the world with a routine 6-2, 6-2 victory over the dangerous Holger Rune.
It was a ruthlessly dominant display from Draper, who not only displayed great power but also demonstrated control and poise in trouncing the talented Rune with little to no fuss at all. Not the usual performance of someone appearing in their first Masters 1000 Final!
Draper’s forehand was on its usual devastating form, mixing power with precision, using his lefty stance to create deep angles; Rune, who did not play badly, stood no chance.
After defeating Carlos Alcaraz during Saturday’s semi-finals, Draper was already guaranteed a spot in the ATP top 10, but victory over Rune means Draper will soar as high as 7th in the world. The Brit has shown in the last week, with victories over Fonseca, Fritz, Shelton, Alcaraz and Rune, that he is more than capable of mixing it with the best in the world.
Draper was always an immensely talented player, but there were occasional questions over his fitness; however, he seems to have added some extra muscle and conditioning that have taken him to the next level.
I was lucky enough to be courtside during some of Draper’s matches at the Australian Open earlier this year, and the changes in his fitness levels were clear to see in the early rounds, winning his first three matches in five sets before succumbing to Alcaraz in the fourth round.
With a Masters victory now under his belt, only one tier below Grand Slam tournaments, the question on all British tennis fans’ lips is: “Can he take this form and turn it into Grand Slam success?”
I believe, overwhelmingly, that the answer is yes.
Draper has already appeared in a Grand Slam semi-final at the 2024 US Open, and more are surely around the corner. What impresses me most about Draper isn’t his big serve and forehand; it’s his grit and composure, which are by far the biggest weapons a tennis player can have in their arsenal when it comes to Grand Slam glory.
Now, I’m not saying that Draper will be as good as Sinner or Alcaraz, but I believe that he will be a constant performer at Grand Slams. The US Open in September offers his best chance at lifting a Grand Slam title, but the potential for a decent run at Roland Garros is there if he can make it past the first round.
Fans of British tennis should be extremely excited by the potential of their next superstar. The heir to Sir Andy Murray’s throne has stepped forward, draped in Indian Wells glory.
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