Jack Draper says his Indian Wells triumph has crammed him with the idea he can “beat anyone” as he targets a Sunshine Double-clinching victory on the Miami Open.
The British No 1 climbed to a career-high seventh on the planet rankings after thrashing Holger Rune in straight units to assert his first ATP 1000 Masters title within the remaining of the BNP Paribas Open.
The largest victory of Draper’s profession so far left him brimming with confidence and earned him a bye by means of the primary spherical on the Miami Open, the place he’s bidding to develop into solely the eighth man – and first Brit – to finish the ‘Sunshine Double’.
“There are a lot of amazing players in this draw,” Draper informed Sky Sports activities. “Winning [at Indian Wells] makes me believe, I feel like I can beat anyone.
“On the similar time, there are lots of matches in entrance of me, beginning with the primary one in opposition to a extremely powerful participant. I imagine in myself, however there’s a lengthy strategy to go.
“Final week has given me lots of confidence, it has been nice celebrating with my household and my crew, and to really feel the delight I really feel.
“Equally, I really feel I have been working in the direction of this second for a very long time and imagine I can do it, so I take it in my stride. I am transferring on right here and searching ahead to beginning once more and beginning robust right here.
“I feel healthy; physically good, mentally strong, and emotionally prepared to keep on going and putting in the work to be better.”
Draper would be a part of tennis greats Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras in finishing the Sunshine Double have been he to safe his second ATP 1000 Masters title within the area of a fortnight.
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Following a formidable victory in opposition to Rune in the course of the remaining at Indian Wells, Draper stated he wasn’t anticipating to be champion, however admits it feels ‘unimaginable’ to safe his first ATP 1000 Masters title
Reflecting on his exploits at Indian Wells, the 23 year-old highlighted three pivotal moments that finally laid the muse for him to reach on the remaining in full confidence.
“The first match against [Joao] Fonseca, someone I think is going to be a top, top player in years to come,” Draper defined.
“To see the followers and what he introduced, the ambiance from the primary day, made me really feel like I used to be in event mode. There have been lots of followers there and that was a extremely particular match to return by means of.
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Katie Boulter stated she predicted Draper’s Indian Wells triumph and praised the brand new world No7 for his onerous work
“The match against Taylor [Fritz] was where everything started to click for me. I’d been searching for that for a little while, especially off the back of those injuries at the start of the year, so that really helped my confidence.
“Then getting over the road within the Carlos [Alcaraz] match on such an enormous stage in opposition to somebody who has received it twice in a row, that was actually large for me.”
Asked if there was a match he approached with complete confidence, Draper added: “Most likely the ultimate. I might been taking part in actually good tennis all week.
“The day before I had a wobble in the second set against Carlos, so to get over the line against that kind of player on that kind of stage is really important for me at this stage of my career. I went into the next knowing I might feel that way, but it was okay and that I could do it.”
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Jonathan Overend believes Wimbledon 2025 is completely arrange for Draper
Miami Open schedule
Tuesday March 18: Girls’s first spherical
Wednesday March 19: Males’s and girls’s first spherical
Thursday March 20: Males’s first spherical/ladies’s second spherical
Friday March 21: Males’s and girls’s second spherical
Saturday March 22: Males’s second spherical/ladies’s third spherical
Sunday March 23: Males’s and girls’s third spherical
Monday March 24: Males’s third spherical/ladies’s fourth spherical
Tuesday March 25: Girls’s quarter-finals/males’s fourth spherical
Wednesday March 26: Males’s and girls’s quarter-finals
Thursday March 27: Girls’s semi-finals/males’s quarter-finals
Friday March 28: Males’s semi-finals
Saturday March 29: Girls’s remaining
Sunday March 30: Males’s remaining
Watch the ATP and WTA Excursions, in addition to the US Open in New York, stay on Sky Sports activities in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra stay sport this yr at no further value. Discover out extra right here.
