Carlos Alcaraz outlines the ways in which Jack Draper has significantly improved.
The Spaniard entered the Indian Wells Masters having not lost there since 2022 to compatriot Rafael Nadal.
But there is a new sheriff in town as Draper ended Alcaraz’s streak in the 2025 semi-finals, before going on to become champion.
Draper’s Indian Wells victory has propelled him to a new ranking high of seven, and he aims to continue his momentum at the Miami Open.
Carlos Alcaraz pinpoints area in which Jack Draper has improved
Draper is beginning to consistently show the talent that everyone knew he possessed.
Perhaps the one thing that was slightly holding the 23-year-old back was his fitness, as he struggled with injury and vomited during his 2024 US Open semi-final.
But other than his retirement from the Australian Open fourth round, Draper has looked sharp this season and has a title and another finals appearance to show for his improved fitness.
His rival and friend Carlos Alcaraz alluded to this and he believed his physical condition helped him succeed at Indian Wells.
“His tennis is really high right now, the level he plays puts him in every point,” the Spaniard said. “He has been really solid, talking about Indian Wells, he was really solid with a lot of pace and different kinds of shots.
“He can hit the forehand with a lot of top spin, the backhand is a little bit flat and he serves pretty well as well. For me the most important thing is that he grew up a lot physically.
“I think he felt really well physically and for your mind it is really important to feel like that because the confidence is even higher.
“I think in Indian Wells he played great tennis, mentally he is strong enough to play at that high level during the whole match and I think that makes him a really tough opponent.”
Jack Draper trying to compete ‘Sunshine Double’ in Miami
Draper had little time to celebrate his Indian Wells victory as was soon on a plane to Florida to prepare for the Miami Open.
Should he win the tournament, Draper would become just the eighth man to win the Indian Wells and Miami titles in the same season.
He will commence the tournament against either Roberto Bautista Agut or Jakub Mensik, before taking on either Alexei Popyrin or Jenson Brooksby.
In the last 16, Draper could face Holger Rune in an Indian Wells final rematch, while Alexander Zverev could be his quarter-final opponent.
Taylor Fritz, Andrey Rublev or Alex de Minaur could be his semi-final opponent, and Draper can not meet Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic until the final.
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