Carlos Alcarazcurrent number 3 of the world and defender champion of Indian Wellswas eliminated in the tournament’s semifinals after falling to the British Jack Draper in a match full of ups and downs.
With a score of 6-1, 0-6 and 6-4, the young Murcia tennis player could not keep his winning streak in the California desert, staying out of the final and losing valuable points in the ATP ranking.
The confrontation between Alcaraz and Draper was marked by drastic changes in the game rhythm. While the British dominated the first set easily, Alcaraz responded with forcefulness in the second, taking him to a double 6-0 in the first partials. However, in the final set, a controversial decision of the chair judge, which required two VAR reviews and favored Draper, ended up influencing the result.
Despite the controversy, Alcaraz acknowledged that the main problem was his own lack of concentration:
“Today has been a difficult day for me. I did not practice well and I didn’t feel comfortable on the track. I worried more about Draper’s game than for mine,” admitted the Spanish after the game.
Impact on the ATP ranking and upcoming challenges for Alcaraz
The defeat in Indian Wells 2025 means that Carlos Alcaraz could not defend the 1,000 points obtained last year as champion, which expands the gap with the first positions of the ATP ranking. However, the Spanish tennis player maintains optimism and looks towards the Miami Open 2025 as an opportunity for revenge:
“I learn from the defeats. The last time I lost here in the semifinals, I won in Miami,” recalled the Murcian, who will look for his third title in the US tournament.
Jack Draper makes history and will play the final against Holger Rune
With this victory, Jack Draper becomes the first British to reach the Indian Wells final, ensuring his entrance to the world top 10. His rival in the final will be the Danish Holger Rune, who also seeks his first 1000 Masters title.
Indian Wells 2025 leaves Carlos Alcaraz with a tough lesson, but with the opportunity to redeem himself on the hard court tour in the United States.
