Jack Draper has just knocked Novak Djokovic out of Indian Wells, after which he offered a really exciting update about his future.
In one of the best matches of the 2026 ATP season, Draper battled past Djokovic 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7-5) after more than two-and-a-half hours of thrilling action.
The British number one, who denied the Serbian the chance of a record sixth Indian Wells title, now meets Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals.
But despite a superb performance and victory over Djokovic, Draper doesn’t think he’s “anywhere near” his best, which certainly bodes well for his future.
Is Jack Draper the best player outside of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner?
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Jack Draper’s admission about his level is seriously exciting
Draper’s admission on his current level is potentially hugely significant for himself and the rest of the players on the ATP Tour, namely Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
He said after his latest victory in California: “I still don’t feel like I’m playing anywhere near the way I want to play.
“I came out here and I won that match through determination.”
Winning a match through determination is no mean feat, particularly given that it came against one of the in-form players in the game.
Djokovic has balanced his schedule expertly this season, allowing him to reach the final of the Australian Open, which he lost to Alcaraz.
Of course, his history in the sport speaks for itself, making Draper’s admission that he can get even better all the more exciting.
He’s already proven his superb ability on the court time and again, but now British tennis fans should be looking towards bigger and better success for their leading man in the very near future.
| Novak Djokovic | Jack Draper | |
| 7/13 (54%) | Net points won | 6/7 (86%) |
| 26 | Winners | 39 |
| 36 | Unforced errors | 35 |
| 61/94 (65%) | Service points won | 65/103 (63%) |
| 38/103 (37%) | Return points won | 33/94 (35%) |
| 99/197 (50%) | Total points won | 98/197 (50%) |
How has Jack Draper performed on the ATP Tour up to now?
Draper has achieved great success in his ATP career so far, which is made all the more impressive by his unfortunate injury history.
The Briton has been severely hampered by various issues despite his relative youth, which he can hopefully overcome once and for all.
He’s currently 14th in the world rankings, but has previously risen all the way up to fourth, helped by his three career titles.
Where will Jack Draper be ranked at the end of 2026?
Will he return to the top 10 or are you predicting him to drop down?
Draper also has more than 100 wins to his name at the age of 24, and is approaching $10million in career prize money.
But perhaps greater Grand Slam success must now be achieved if the British number one wants to really cement his status among the top players in men’s tennis.
His 2024 US Open semifinal run represents his best major result, followed by fourth round finishes at both the Australian Open and the French Open.
A much better Wimbledon run may, therefore, be at the top of his agenda, with the home favorite having never made it beyond the second round from his four attempts.
| Australian Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open | |
| 2021 | – | – | 1st | – |
| 2022 | – | – | 2nd | 3rd |
| 2023 | 1st | 1st | – | 4th |
| 2024 | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | SF |
| 2025 | 4th | 4th | 2nd | 2nd |
Given the current situation, he’ll very likely need to enjoy great success against Alcaraz and Sinner in the coming years.
And he’s certainly held his own in that regard thus far, holding a 2-4 head-to-head record against the Spaniard and a 1-1 record against the Italian.
But for now all of his focus is on defending his Indian Wells title, which he clinched after titles in Vienna and Stuttgart in 2024.
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