WELLS, CA – Jack Draper drowned Holger Rune with more than an hour in Sunday’s BNP Paribas Open final, knocking out the run 6-2, 6-2, to score two big milestones, winning his first Masters 1000 title and ranking in the top 10 in the ATP rankings.
Draper, a 23-year-old from England, was seeded No. 13 in a tough game in the California Desert, gained a 21-7 advantage against Rune winners while also making fewer uncompulsory mistakes.
Draper’s left-handed serve was particularly important: he hit 10 A, won 21 out of 23 first-pointers, and never allowed the runes to get a single breakpoint.
“You never know when it’s your time,” said Draper, a September U.S. Open player. “I lost the first round here last year, so I didn’t have much experience with the game. … But I would say it’s one of my favorite games right now.”
On Monday, he will be ranked 14th in career highest.
“I think,” Draper said, “just like I deserve it.”
Earlier Sunday, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva of Russia won the 1,000 title for the second time in a row, surpassing No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Rune is a 21-year-old from Denmark who was seeded in the twelfth place in India.
Their showdown was the first ATP Masters 1000 final for two men born in the 2000s, with the first of two Indian Wells men in the Indian Wells since 22-year-old Rafael Nadal defeating 21-year-old Andy Murray in 2009.
“It’s a tough day for me, but I have to start with congratulations to Jack,” Rune said. “You’ve been showing some incredible tennis and of course, you should win today.”
Draper reached the finals by eliminating two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals on Friday.
“I didn’t expect this. I put a lot of work into it as time goes by.”
