Jack Draper will meet Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells after knocking out America’s Ben Shelton in straight sets. It will be the British tennis player’s maiden Masters 1000 semi-final.
After an even tussle to start the match, Draper struck first blood with a break of serve in the seventh game en route to wrapping up the first set 6-4.
He then struggled in the opening stages of the second set, giving up a quick break and finding himself down 0-3. He was able to rally, however, claiming three straight games before both players again settled into a chess match.
After mirroring each other to 5-5, Draper claimed a crucial break in the 11th and held serve to claim a 6-4, 7-5 victory in one hour and 39 minutes, progressing to the last four.
Bullseye
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 14, 2025
Jack Draper with the @BMWUSA Play of the Day #BMW | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/2bYy8OQZ1T
He will face second seed Alcaraz in the final four after the Spaniard overcame Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 7-6(4).
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev also reached the semi-finals with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(7) win over 20-year-old Arthur Fils. Meanwhile, Holger Rune dispatched Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 to reach his first semi-final of the year in a match that was briefly interrupted by rain.
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka cruised past Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 to make the semi-finals in just one hour and 22 minutes. She will face 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who cruised past Belinda Bencic 6-1, 6-1.
Ninth seed Mirra Andreeva hit a 10-match winning streak with her 7-5, 6-3 victory over Elina Svitolina. She will play Poland’s Iga Swiątek, who made it through to the semi-finals after beating Chinese Olympic gold medallist Qinwen Zheng 6-3, 6-3.
additional reporting by PA