Carlos Alcaraz has seen his 16-match winning streak at Indian Wells come to an end at the hands of Jack Draper.
Alcaraz was bidding for Indian Wells history this year as the two-time defending champion, looking to join both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only players to win three consecutive titles in the Californian desert.
The Spaniard made an impressive start to his 2025 campaign, with Alcaraz making history by reaching the semi-finals.
However, the world number three was very wary of the threat that his semi-final opponent posed, with Alcaraz full of praise for Draper even prior to their match.
Carlos Alcaraz admits big problem after Indian Wells exit.
British number one Draper beat Alcaraz, 6-1 0-6 6-4, to reach his first Masters 1000 final in a very tumultuous match at Indian Wells.
This is only Alcaraz’s third defeat at the Indian Wells tournament, with Draper joining Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal as the only other players to beat the Spaniard.
When speaking in his post-match press conference after the match, Alcaraz admitted that he was very nervous before the match and admitted that it became a big problem for him.
“Well, I always say that I have to be focused on myself, on my own game,” said Alcaraz. “I think today I was more worried about his level, his game, than myself.
“So I think that’s was a big problem to me, that I was always thinking about his weakness than my best things. So when you’re thinking more about the opponent than yourself, then it is a big problem.
“So that’s what happened today. Since the beginning of the day, since the morning, I was thinking about his game, because he’s really tough, he’s really solid, and it’s going to be a really physical match. So I was thinking all these things since the beginning of the day, and I think that a big problem.”
Carlos Alcaraz explains disappointment after Indian Wells exit
Alcaraz hit 30 unforced errors against Draper, and while he wanted to win three consecutive Indian Wells titles, the Murcian was more upset with his approach to the match.
The 21-year-old was particularly frustrated with losing the first set in 23 minutes, but was trying to look ahead to the Miami Open.
“Well, I mean, obviously I wanted to win the third in a row, but, I mean, I can’t pretend to win every match,” explained Alcaraz. “I am not as upset about not getting the third one in a row. I am upset about myself, about the way that I approached the match, the way that I felt during the whole day, that I couldn’t calm down myself.
“That’s, for me, the most disappointed thing that I’m feeling right now, because, I mean, is probably one of the worst sets that I have played in my whole career, the first set.
“So that means how nervous I was, you know, before the match, during the whole day. So that’s, for me, it is really disappointing. How much it’s gonna take to take the upset? Not too much. Not too much. Because I consider myself a person who learns from the fails, from the losses.
“The last time that I lost here was the semi-final (2022), and after all, I won Miami, so I think I will go for it. I will learn from that match, and I will make the most of myself in Miami.”
The Miami Open will be the next tournament for Alcaraz, while Draper will look to win the biggest title of his career against Holger Rune in the Indian Wells final.
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