Draper fights to ‘mind-blowing’ win over DjokovicImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Draper last played Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2021ByPhil Cartwright, BBC Sport journalist and Mandeep Sanghera, BBC Sport journalistPublished11 March 2026Updated 16 minutes agoBritain’s Jack Draper produced a superb fightback to beat Novak Djokovic and reach the Indian Wells fourth round – a result he believes could be “a real big moment” in his season.Defending champion Draper regrouped impressively to beat 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) in a “real physical battle” of two hours and 35 minutes.Djokovic, a five-time winner at Indian Wells, had beaten Draper in the only previous meeting between them at Wimbledon in 2021.The victory is an important one for Draper as he rebuilds after a torrid eight-month spell plagued with an arm injury.
“To beat Novak is something that is mind-blowing,” Draper, who is playing only his second ATP Tour event of the season, told BBC Sport.
“I’ve watched him since I was a kid, idolising him. Unbelievable respect for the player that he is.
“I still want to play better, and feel better on the court, but I think for how long I have had off the court to come here and play three tough matches already and play that one, it’s huge for me.
“It’s something I will probably look back on in a few months and think this is a real big moment for me.”
World number 14 Draper is joined in the quarter-finals by fellow Briton Cameron Norrie, who will play world number one Carlos Alcaraz next.
