Novak Djokovic exited the BNP Paribas Open after Jack Draper outlasted him in a demanding three-set encounter on Wednesday. The British player, defending his title, rallied to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) and move into the quarter-finals at the California Masters 1000 event.
The match stretched beyond two and a half hours and featured intense rallies that left both competitors visibly drained. Draper, playing just his second tournament since an arm injury sidelined him for the better part of six months, showed impressive resilience against the 38-year-old Djokovic.
Draper lost the opening set but raised his game in the second to level the contest. The third set delivered the most drama. In the very first game, an epic 26-shot rally unfolded at 30-all. Draper and Djokovic traded drop shots and lobs, with players scrambling across the court before Djokovic finished with an overhead smash. The point drew a standing ovation, and Djokovic fell to the ground in exhaustion.
He held serve in that game but appeared to lose steam. Draper broke in the next service game to take control. Serving for the match at 5-4, Draper faltered and allowed Djokovic back into the set. The Serb forced a tiebreak, where he led 4-3 at one stage.
Draper regained his composure with help from the home crowd and edged the tiebreak 7-5 to seal the victory. He relied on well-placed drop shots throughout to disrupt Djokovic’s rhythm and keep him running.
Afterward, Djokovic admitted to a bitter feeling. “I have a bitter feeling right now, losing a match like this,” he said. “But proud of myself for fighting and really giving it all on the court. That’s for sure.” He pointed to one key moment as the difference. “One point. It was great winning that point in that game, but I just ran completely out of gas.”
He noted Draper’s missed opportunity at 5-4 gave him hope. “He played a sloppy game to close it out 5-4, and I got the crowd backing me and I felt the energy. It was so, so close. Just unfortunate few mistakes from my side.”
Draper spoke of his mindset. “I came out here tonight and I won that match through determination and trying to problem-solve and do my best and have a great attitude,” he told reporters. He added that the win felt overwhelming. “To come out here against Novak, for me the greatest tennis player there is, and someone I’ve been admiring and watching since I was a little kid, I’m just incredibly proud of myself.”
The result marks Draper’s first win over Djokovic and keeps his title defense on track at the BNP Paribas Open. He now faces Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals on Thursday. The Russian reached the last eight with a straightforward 6-2, 6-4 victory over American Alex Michelsen.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz powered into the quarter-finals with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) win over Norway’s Casper Ruud. Alcaraz dominated the first set completely and held firm in the second despite Ruud’s improved play. “My first set, I think I was unplayable to be honest,” Alcaraz said. “I was really, really happy about playing at that level.”
The Spaniard, fresh off titles at the Australian Open and in Qatar, extended his unbeaten run this season to 15 matches. He will play Britain’s Cameron Norrie next. Norrie, who won the Indian Wells title in 2021, beat qualifier Rinki Hijikata 6-4, 6-2. Norrie previously defeated Alcaraz at the Paris Masters last year, adding intrigue to their quarter-final clash.
The victory over one of the game’s legends highlights Draper’s return to form and sets up another big test against Medvedev, who previously defeated him in Rome. The quarter-finals promise continued high-level action as the tournament progresses in the desert conditions.
