Draper Looks Forward to Facing Djokovic in Indian Wells

Rising British star Jack Draper secures spot in round of 16, set to take on legendary Serbian champion

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Jack Draper secured a convincing victory over Francisco Cerúndolo to book his place in the round of 16 at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Draper's aggressive returning and sharp baseline play proved decisive, as he converted eight of 14 break points to dominate the match. The victory sets up a highly anticipated clash with Novak Djokovic, who Draper faces for the second time in his career.

Why it matters

This matchup between the rising British star Draper and the legendary Serbian champion Djokovic is one of the marquee encounters at Indian Wells. Draper has shown impressive growth in his game, while Djokovic continues to be one of the most dominant players in the sport, making this a highly anticipated clash between the present and future of men's tennis.

The details

Draper explained his aggressive return strategy, highlighting the high bounce in Indian Wells as an advantage for his approach. He also discussed his recent switch to gut strings in the mains, a change prompted by arm issues rather than performance. Draper believes tennis is evolving toward more complete skill sets, and he has worked extensively on his net game during injury breaks to become a more versatile competitor.

  • Draper defeated Francisco Cerúndolo 6-0, 6-2 on March 10, 2026 to advance to the round of 16.
  • Draper will face Novak Djokovic in the round of 16 on March 12, 2026.

The players

Jack Draper

A 24-year-old British tennis player currently ranked No. 14 in the world. Draper has shown impressive growth in his game and is looking forward to the challenge of facing Novak Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic

A 38-year-old Serbian tennis player currently ranked No. 3 in the world. Djokovic is a legendary champion in the sport, having won 101 career titles, including 52 on hard courts.

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What they’re saying

“I have ultimate respect for him. I think he's the biggest champion of all time in our sport... I can't wait to get out there and see how I match up against him.”

— Jack Draper, Tennis Player (tennistonic.com)

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