Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were locked to play in the first notable final with two players born in 2000s! However, things did not go their way a couple of times, and Jack Draper and Holger Rune stole the show in Indian Wells!
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The Briton and the Dane battled for the title in the desert, marking the first notable title clash between two players born in 2000 or later. As we already said, Sinner and Alcaraz should have done it. However, theyplayed in two lower-ranked finals and met in the semi-final at notable events four times.
Thus, Draper and Rune got a chance in Indian Wells and used it nicely. Jack ousted Carlos in the semi-final and toppled Holger 6-2, 6-2 in the title match to lift his first Masters 1000 crown at 23.
Instead of a thrilling battle between the two young guns, we got a one-sided affair!Draper oustedRune 6-2, 6-2 in 69 minutes for his first Masters 1000 crown and a top-10 debut. The Briton took 20 points more than the Dane and had the upper hand on serve and return.
Jack presented superb numbers behind the first serve, clinching 24 of 26 points. The Sutton native gave away 12 points in eight service games and faced no break points. Holger could not follow those numbers after dropping almost half of the points in his games.
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Rune played against seven break points and experienced two breaks in each set to finish runner-up. Draper forged a massive lead in the quickest exchanges up to four strokes. He outplayed his rival in the mid-range exchanges and earned the trophy in style.
The Briton grabbed a break in the first game of the encounter after drawing the Dane's backhand error. Jack landed a forehand winner in game two and made another push on the return at 2-0, firing a forehand winner for break chances.
Draper seized the first with a volley winner at the net, taking 12 of the first 16 points and moving 3-0 up after ten minutes. He landed an ace for 4-0 and missed a break point in the next one after Holger's forehand winner.
A left-handed provided a hold at love in the sixth game for 5-1 and served for the first set two games later. Draper drew Rune's mistake for 6-2 in 29 minutes, gathering a boost ahead of set number two. Not stopping there, the Briton landed a return winner in the first game of the second set for a break.
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Jack held for 2-0 and claimed the fourth game after deuces, moving 3-1 in front. The Briton closed the sixth game with a crafty winner at the net and made another push on the return at 4-2. He seized the second break point after Holger's backhand error, forginga 5-2 advantage and serving for the title.
Draper earned a match point and converted it with a forced error, sealing the deal in style andbecoming a Masters 1000 champion at 23.
