Britain’s Jack Draper wears down veteran top star Novak Djokovic in what is arguably one of the best matches of the year. Carlos Alcaraz also advances.
Grand Slam record champion Novak Djokovic has been knocked out in the round of 16 at the ATP Masters in Indian Wells. The 38-year-old Serb lost to British defending champion Jack Draper 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (5-7) after 2 hours and 35 minutes. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz remains undefeated in 2026 after his convincing 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) victory over Casper Ruud. Draper wore Djokovic down in a hard-fought third set, denying him his first quarterfinal appearance in the California desert since his last of five titles in Indian Wells in 2016.
“I won this match through determination, trying to solve problems, giving my best, and showing a great attitude,” Draper said afterward.
Spectacular rallies: “Djokovic and Draper defy all logic”
For Djokovic, it was his first appearance since his Australian Open final defeat to Spanish star Alcaraz. Draper, who was playing only his second tournament since returning from a nearly six-month break due to an arm injury, kept Djokovic running with a series of drop shots.
Some spectacular rallies at the limit of both players’ abilities had fans and media raving. In the live commentary on the Tennis Channel, the commentator raved about the “best point you’ll ever see” after a symbolic scene. After the match, the American sports channel also wrote: “Ice cold, tennis. Jack Draper defeats Novak Djokovic in one of the matches of the year.”
INSANITY
Just sit back and enjoy @DjokerNole and Draper defying logic!!! @BNPPARIBASOPEN TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/GKziYm3eiO
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 12, 2026
The ATP Tour also wrote in a post on X: “Insane, just sit back and enjoy as Djokovic and Draper defy all logic.”
The 24-year-old Draper will now face Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals. For Djokovic, however, Indian Wells remains a shortcoming of recent years. Between 2007 and 2016, he won the desert tournament five times, but since then he has only reached the round of 16 at best.
