Jack Draper has booked his place in an ATP Masters 1000 semi-final for the first time after defeating American Ben Shelton in straight sets at the BNP Paribas Open.
The British No 1 edged ahead in the race between two of the rising stars of men’s tennis with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Shelton, who was also out to reach the last four of a Masters event for the first time. Draper will next face two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz after the No 2 seed overcame Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 7-6 (4) in their quarter-final in Indian Wells on Thursday.
Draper made the most of the only break in the first set to take an early lead against the big-hitting Shelton but had to fight back after falling behind 0-3 in the second. The 22-year-old American was unusually wayward on his serve and paid a heavy price for a pair of late double faults, including one on break point for Draper, when serving at 5-5 in the second set.
“I didn’t know what to expect today, honestly,” Draper said. “I’d hit with Ben maybe once or twice, but very short practices. I’ve obviously watched a lot of him, he’s an incredible showman [with] weapons … can hit a winner from anywhere. The serve’s obviously huge. He’s a great competitor and he’s been really consistent.
“I knew coming out here facing him on this court in front of the Americans was going to be really difficult today and it was. Huge respect to him, huge credit to him. He’s going to keep on winning, keep on having an amazing career.”
Draper has now knocked out three Americans in a row with earlier wins over former champion champ Taylor Fritz and Jenson Brooksby in the third round during his run at Indian Wells. The 23-year-old reached the semi-finals at the 2024 US Open and will move into the rankings top 10 for the first time if he can clinch a spot in the final.
“It means so much to me,” Draper said. “It’s why I’m playing, why I put all the hard work in with my team, to play these matches on these courts and especially in a place like this. It’s what I’ve wanted since I was a kid and to be here now is a bit surreal.”
Iga Świątek set up a rematch with Mirra Andreeva in the women’s singles with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Zheng Qinwen. The defending champion’s victory would have been even more decisive had Zheng not pulled two games back from 5-1 in each set as Świątek had the better of the blustery conditions.
“For sure I feel a lot of confidence,” Świątek said. “This was another match that I played how I wanted. I’m happy with the performance and happy that I adjusted to the wind at the end.”
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Świątek has not won a title since the French Open last June and, if she is to change that this week, will have to get past in-form 17-year-old Andreeva. The Russian defeated Świątek on her way to her first WTA 1000 title in Dubai last month, and is only two victories away from another crown after beating Elina Svitolina 7-5, 6-3.
In the men’s event the fifth seed, Daniil Medvedev, jumped for joy after edging a seesaw encounter with young Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7). The final stages saw the match briefly delayed by strong winds and then a Fils nosebleed before Medvedev, who has had a difficult start to the season, clinched his third match point when his opponent missed a volley from on top of the net.
Britain’s Olivia Nicholls reached the biggest final of her career in doubles thanks to a 7-5, 6-3 win over fifth seeds Hsieh Su-wei and Zhang Shuai with Slovakian partner Tereza Mihalíková.
