عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Draper Beats Rune at Indian Wells for a First Masters 1000 Title and a Top-10 Debut

Jack Draper of Great Britain poses with the championship trophy after defeating Holger Rune of Denmark following the men's singles final match of the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 16 March 2025. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO
Jack Draper of Great Britain poses with the championship trophy after defeating Holger Rune of Denmark following the men's singles final match of the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 16 March 2025. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO
TT
20
TT

Draper Beats Rune at Indian Wells for a First Masters 1000 Title and a Top-10 Debut

Jack Draper of Great Britain poses with the championship trophy after defeating Holger Rune of Denmark following the men's singles final match of the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 16 March 2025. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO
Jack Draper of Great Britain poses with the championship trophy after defeating Holger Rune of Denmark following the men's singles final match of the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 16 March 2025. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

Jack Draper overwhelmed Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in a little more than an hour in the final of the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, achieving two big milestones by claiming his first Masters 1000 title and earning his debut in the top 10 of the ATP rankings.
Draper, a 23-year-old from Britain who was seeded 13th at the hard-court tournament in the California desert, built up a 21-7 advantage in winners against Rune while also making fewer unforced errors, The Associated Press reported.
Draper's left-handed serve was particularly important: He hit 10 aces, won 21 of his 23 first-serve points and never allowed Rune to earn a single break point.
“You never know when it's your time,” said Draper, a US Open semifinalist in September. “I lost first round here last year, so I didn't get to experience the tournament too much. ... But I'd say this is one of my favorite tournaments now, of course.”
He will rise from No. 14 to a career-high No. 7 in the rankings on Monday.
“I feel,” Draper said, “like I deserve it.”
Earlier Sunday, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva of Russia collected her second consecutive Masters 1000 title by getting past No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Rune is a 21-year-old from Denmark who was seeded 12th at Indian Wells.
Their matchup was the first ATP Masters 1000 final anywhere between two men born in the 2000s and the first at Indian Wells between two aged 23 or younger since Rafael Nadal, 22, beat Andy Murray, 21, in 2009.
“Tough day for me, but I have to start with congratulating Jack,” Rune said. “You've been showing some incredible tennis and, for sure, you deserved to win today.”
Draper got to the final by eliminating two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals on Friday.
“I wasn’t expecting this. I put in a lot of work over time," Draper said. "I’m just so grateful and so happy to ... be able to play, my body feeling healthy and to feel great in the mind.”

Most Viewed

 
Sports

Algeria’s Boxing Champion Khelif Targets Second Olympic Gold in LA

Imane Khelif. (AFP)
Imane Khelif. (AFP)
TT
20
TT

Algeria’s Boxing Champion Khelif Targets Second Olympic Gold in LA

Imane Khelif. (AFP)
Imane Khelif. (AFP)

Algeria's Imane Khelif, who won Paris Olympics boxing gold amid a gender-eligibility row, is determined to defend her title at the 2028 Los Angeles Games and says she will not be intimidated by US President Donald Trump.

Trump signed an executive order banning transgender women from female sports in the United States last month and called Khelif "a male boxer" in his speech after signing the order.

"I will give you a straightforward answer, I am not transgender," she told ITV in an interview.

"This does not concern me, and it does not intimidate me."

Khelif said she dreamed of retaining her title in California.

"Second gold medal, of course. In America, Los Angeles ... I (will) defend with everything this gold medal," she said.

"I believe that if the old Imane operated at 50% of her potential, then the Imane Khalif of today is even more motivated and determined."

Khelif was disqualified by the International Boxing Association at the 2023 world championships after a test that the body said rendered her ineligible to fight as a woman on the grounds of gender.

The IBA lost its Olympic recognition over governance issues, however, and the International Olympic Committee cleared Khelif to compete in Paris, aggressively defending its position after heavy criticism.

A rival body to the IBA, World Boxing, was given provisional recognition as the international governing body of the sport last month.

The recommendation still requires final approval by the IOC at its session in Greece and outgoing President Thomas Bach said he was confident the session would approve it.

"At this point, I can say that the IBA is a thing of the past," Khelif said. "As we say in Algeria, those who have nothing to hide should have no fear."

"I hope the next president of the IOC leads with true sportsmanship, stays committed to Olympic principles, and upholds the values of fair play," she said.