Draper Stuns Cerundolo, Sets Up Djokovic Showdown
Jack Draper beats Cerundolo to set up a Novak Djokovic showdown at Indian Wells. The Indian Wells tennis tournament heats up as Draper continues his comeback run.
Jack Draper continued his impressive comeback from a hand injury, defeating Francisco Cerundolo to set up a last-16 clash with Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells.
Draper rode his luck late in the second set to win 6-1, 7-5 and set up his first meeting with Djokovic since taking the first set from the defending champion on his Wimbledon debut in 2021.
Draper, now 24, returned to the ATP Tour last week in Dubai after an eight-month absence, and his victory over Cerundolo marked the first time he had won consecutive matches at the same tournament since Queens last June.
Draper told Sky Sports: "I'm just getting to the point where I'm playing without pain in my hand, so it's not easy to feel really confident. Obviously, I'm playing a bit, but I have to accept that my tennis won't be fully restored for a while."
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Draper won the first set easily, but was put to a severe test late in the second set when Cerundolo held serve to level the score at 5-4, but then lost serve twice in a row as the British player took the lead at crucial moments.
Draper said he would have to improve his game for his rematch with Djokovic, who reached the fourth round for the first time since 2017 when he defeated Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.
Draper continued: "I've been watching him since I was a little boy, and in my opinion, he's the greatest player of all time. When you play against him, you know he'll be there mentally, you know he'll make it an incredibly tough match and play some crazy tennis. I have to be prepared for that."
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Draper's fellow British player, Cameron Norrie, the 2021 champion, also advanced to the fourth round with a stunning 6-4, 6-4 win over world No. 6 Alex de Minaur. He will face Australian qualifier Rinki Hijikata, who defeated 10th seed Alexander Bublik 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 6-3.
Sone Kartel kept the British players in focus in the women's singles, as she came back from losing the first set to defeat 15th seed Madison Keys.
The former Australian Open champion won the first set 6-2, but the British No. 2 took the next two sets 6-2, 6-3 to win in just under two hours.
World No. 2 Iga Swiatek easily won 6-3, 6-2 against Maria Sakkari, while Elena Svitolina defeated Ashlyn Kruger 6-4, 6-2.
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