In a commanding performance, British tennis star Jack Draper clinched the biggest title of his career on Sunday, March 16, 2025, defeating Denmark’s Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in the men’s singles final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. The victory not only marked Draper’s first ATP Masters 1000 title but also propelled him into the Top 10 of the ATP rankings for the first time, where he will debut at No. 7 on Monday, March 17, 2025.
The 23-year-old, seeded 13th, showcased his dominance from the outset, overwhelming the 12th-seeded Rune in just 68 minutes. Draper’s left-handed serve proved a formidable weapon, as he fired 10 aces and won 21 of his 23 first-serve points without facing a single break point. His aggressive baseline play and precise forehand winners further underscored his control, finishing the match with a 21-7 advantage in winners over Rune, while committing fewer unforced errors.
“I knew Holger was going to come out and play some really good tennis, so I needed to be aggressive and play to win from the first ball,” Draper said post-match. “I did an amazing job of that and didn’t allow him to play. I felt like I dictated the match really well.”
Rune, a 21-year-old with prior experience in Masters 1000 finals, struggled to find his rhythm against Draper’s relentless pressure. The Dane managed only seven winners against 18 unforced errors, a stark contrast to his semifinal performance where he had overcome fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev. “Tough day for me, but I have to start with congratulating Jack,” Rune said during the trophy ceremony. “You’ve been showing some incredible tennis and, for sure, you deserved to win today.”
Draper’s path to the final was far from easy, featuring victories over a gauntlet of top players. He dispatched Brazil’s rising star João Fonseca in the second round, followed by American Taylor Fritz in the fourth round, and Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals. His standout performance came in the semifinals, where he upset two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 0-6, 6-4, ending the Spaniard’s 16-match winning streak at Indian Wells. That win ensured Draper’s Top 10 debut, but he refused to rest on his laurels, delivering his most emphatic performance in the final.
“It’s incredible. I wasn’t expecting this,” Draper said after lifting the trophy. “I’ve put in a lot of work over time, and I’m just so grateful to be out here, with my body healthy and feeling great in my mind. All the work I’ve done over the last few years, it feels like it’s all coming together on the big stage.”
The final marked a historic moment as the first ATP Masters 1000 championship match between two players born in the 2000s, and the first at Indian Wells between two players aged 23 or younger since Rafael Nadal defeated Andy Murray in 2009. Draper’s triumph also made him the fifth British man to win a Masters 1000 title, joining Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski, Andy Murray, and Cameron Norrie, the latter of whom won at Indian Wells in 2021.
For Draper, this victory caps a remarkable turnaround. A series of injuries had hampered his early professional career, but his perseverance and physical improvements over the past two seasons have paid dividends. “I feel like I deserve it,” he said. “The amount of adversity, the sacrifices, the time people around me have put into me—it’s an emotional feeling to know how much you’ve gone through to be here now.”
Rune, despite the loss, will rise one spot to No. 12 in the rankings, though he fell short of returning to the Top 10 for the first time since April 2024. The Dane, who won the Paris Masters in 2022, acknowledged the challenge of facing Draper’s form. “It never feels nice not to be able to step over the line, but that’s life sometimes,” he told the crowd.