BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells 2026: Jack Draper beats Novak Djokovic in epic fourth round battle
• 4 minute read
Jack Draper battled through one of the matches of the season to defeat 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and reach the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells.
Defending champion Draper was back at his best as he claimed a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) win over Djokovic – the first of his career against the five-time former winner.
Draper missed the chance to serve out the match at 5-4 in the third set, but the British No.1 dug deep to see out the victory in two hours and 37 minutes.
He joins fellow Brit Cam Norrie in the quarter-finals after he defeated Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 6-2 earlier in the day.
Draper moves on to face Dubai champion Daniil Medvedev in the next round, while Norrie takes on world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz.
However, British No.2 Sonay Kartal’s brilliant Indian Wells campaign came to an end after she was forced to retire with a back issue against Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, trailing 6-4, 4-3.
Draper fights off Djokovic to reach quarter-final
In just his second ATP Tour event since returning from a long-term injury, Draper sealed his third career win against a top three player – his previous victories coming against Alcaraz at the HSBC Championships (2024) and Indian Wells (2025).
After the match, Draper described how proud he was of his performance up against one of the best players of all-time.
"I came out here tonight and I won that match through determination and trying to problem solve and do my best and have a great attitude," the British No.1 said.
"I’m proud of the way I regrouped. I haven’t been playing on the Tour in a long time, so to put away guys who are top players, it’s something that comes with confidence.
"For me to be on court again these last few weeks has been emotional and I’m really grateful for it.
"To come out here against Novak, for me the greatest tennis player there is, and someone I’ve been admiring and watching since I was a little kid. To do that, I’m just incredibly proud of myself."
After a close start to the match, it was Djokovic who proved the more clinical in the decisive moments. The Serbian took advantage of a Draper mistake to break in what was the final game of the opening set.
Draper responded well at the start of the second, punching a cross court forehand winner to get a break in the first game.
He might have let the match get away from him when Djokovic broke back for 3-3, putting his finger to his ear in celebration, but the Brit stayed cool and calm under pressure.
Draper took his moment to raise his game in the final period of the set at 4-4. The Briton broke down the Serbian’s backhand to take his first of three break opportunities, before saving a break point of his own to wrap up the set.
The third set started as it meant to go on. At 30-30 in the first game, the two played one of the points of the season – a brilliant display of cat and mouse tennis with big baseline hitting, genius lobs, incredible court coverage and a drop shot off the net cord from Djokovic to finish.
Draper looked set to see out the match after breaking the former world No.1 at 1-1 and then having the chance to serve for the match a few games later at 5-4 – but Djokovic found a way to cling on. A nervy service game from the Brit gave his opponent the opportunity to level and on they went to the tie-break.
A match of the highest quality ultimately came down to just a few points. Draper dispatched a backhand winner at the end of a long rally to overturn a double mini-break deficit and take a 5-4 lead deep into the breaker, which proved a seismic moment in the match.
Serving stay in the contest at 6-5 down, Djokovic was unable to defend another powerful backhand from the Brit, giving Draper one of the wins of his career so far.
Draper will now face Medvedev for only the second time in his career having lost their only previous meeting in Rome back in 2024.
Kartal retires injured against Rybakina
Kartal has been one of the stories of this year’s Indian Wells, knocking out both Emma Navarro and Madison Keys – but a back injury sustained earlier in the tournament, led to her retiring against world No.3 Rybakina.
The British star was in clear discomfort after being broken on back-to-back service games in the opening set and called for physio treatment.
Kartal fought hard to stay with the Kazakh on serve in the second set, but once she was broken at 3-3, decided to call an end to the match.
In an interview with BBC Sport, she said: “As athletes you are super in-tune with your body, and I've had it pretty much the whole event, so I kind of knew that I could keep pushing. But today it was unfortunately one match too many.”
The 24-year-old leaves Indian Wells having put in some impressive performances and as the first British woman to reach the fourth round twice.
How to watch Jack Draper vs Daniil Medvedev & Cam Norrie vs Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells
Both Brits will be in quarter-final action tonight, with their matches scheduled for the early hours of Friday morning.
Draper vs Medvedev will get underway at 00:00 (GMT) followed by Norrie vs Alcaraz which is set to take place at around 02:00 (GMT).
