Draper dominates Rune to secure ATP Masters Indian Wells crown

Britain's Jack Draper achieved a remarkable victory over Denmark's Holger Rune, winning 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday to claim his inaugural ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells.

Ranked 14th, Draper had previously defeated two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals. He dominated the match against the 13th-ranked Rune, not facing a single break point and completing the match in a swift 69 minutes, which guarantees his entry into the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time.

"It's incredible," said Draper, a US Open semi-finalist last year whose preparations for 2025 were hindered by a flare-up of hip tendinitis.

"I'm just so grateful and happy to be out here, to be able to play, my body feeling healthy, to feel great in my mind.

The 23-year-old expressed, "All the effort I have invested over the past few years seems to be culminating on this grand stage, and I find it difficult to articulate." This statement comes after he faced a significant shoulder injury in 2023.

In his inaugural Masters 1000 final, Draper demonstrated remarkable composure, quickly establishing a 4-0 lead as Rune struggled to find his rhythm.

During the first set, Draper lost only four points on his serve, while Rune, who made a notable entrance into the tennis world with his unexpected victory at the Paris Masters in 2022, committed 10 of his 19 unforced errors in that set.

Although the Dane managed to hold serve twice, Draper secured the set by earning a set point with an ace, followed by Rune hitting a backhand into the net.

Draper broke Rune's serve at the beginning of the second set, and despite Rune having a few opportunities to capitalize on Draper's second serve, he was unable to do so.

Draper achieved a second break to take a 5-2 lead, and after sending a forehand long on his first match point, he clinched the victory when Rune sent a backhand long.

Draper's journey to his third career title included impressive wins over not only Alcaraz but also 2022 Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz and the powerful local contender Ben Shelton.

"I feel like I deserve it, in all honesty," Draper said.

"It's an emotional feeling to know how much you've gone through and put in and to be here now to say that I'm going to be number seven in the world tomorrow, I can't tell you how much that means to me."