Synopsis
In a thrilling quarterfinal at Indian Wells, Jack Draper overcame Ben Shelton with a score of 6-4, 7-5, securing his first ATP 1000 semifinal. Daniil Medvedev also advanced after a tough match against Fils, setting up an exciting semifinal round.Key Takeaways
- Jack Draper reaches his first ATP 1000 semifinal.
- Ben Shelton struggled with double faults during the match.
- Daniil Medvedev secures his spot in the semifinals.
- Medvedev aims for his first title since 2023.
- Carlos Alcaraz could be Draper’s next opponent.
Indian Wells, March 14 (NationPress) Jack Draper triumphed over Ben Shelton with a score of 6-4, 7-5 in the quarterfinals, marking his first appearance in an ATP 1000 semifinal at Indian Wells.
Draper secured the first set with a solitary break and made a remarkable recovery from a 0-3 deficit in the second set during a powerful exchange. Both competitors aimed to dominate the match; however, Shelton faced issues with his consistency, committing five double faults according to ATP Stats. Notably, two of these double faults occurred during his pivotal service game at 5-5 in the second set, including one on break point, as reported by ATP.
The 23-year-old Draper and 22-year-old Shelton were both pursuing their inaugural ATP Masters 1000 semifinal in their third quarterfinal appearance.
Draper has now advanced to his 10th tour-level semifinal. His most significant semifinal performances have occurred within the last six months on hard courts — at the 2024 US Open and this week in Indian Wells. He may potentially face fan favorite Carlos Alcaraz next, should the two-time defending champion overcome Francisco Cerundolo.
In other news, fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev overcame a spirited comeback from the 20-year-old Frenchman to secure his place in the semifinals for a third time, winning 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(7).
Medvedev, who was a finalist in California in 2023 and 2024, found himself in a precarious position when he trailed the 20-year-old Fils 2-4 in the third set. Nevertheless, Medvedev has a reputation for performing well at the first ATP Masters 1000 event of the year, and he once again proved his mettle, clinching victory on his third match point.
Medvedev is on a quest to win his first trophy since 2023, when he secured his sixth ATP Masters 1000 title in Rome. As the fifth seed, he is making his 15th semifinal appearance at this level and will aim for his 11th final against Holger Rune on Saturday.
