The 21-year-old Jack Draper is through into the last 16 in Indian Wells. The young gun defeated the fellow Briton Andy Murray 7-6, 6-2 in two hours and two minutes in the third round. Thus, Jack set a blockbuster fourth-round clash against world no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. Draper showed full respect toward a three-time Major winner after the duel, hugging Murray at the net and praising his countryman. Jack was more aggressive, hitting 31 winners and 25 unforced errors while rushing to the net. The youngster was more efficient in the shortest and mid-range rallies, saving a set point in the opener and controlling everything in set number two. Draper defended four out of five break points and stole Murray’s serve three times from ten opportunities to emerge at the top. Andy hit a double fault in the encounter’s third game to fall 2-1 behind. A left-hander denied a break point in the sixth game with a booming serve and brought it home for 4-2.
Jack Draper toppled Andy Murray in the Indian Wells third round.
Draper passed Murray at the net in the seventh game and earned two break points. Andy denied them with winners and closed the game with a smash winner to remain within one break deficit. Murray held in the ninth game to prolong the action and pushed strong on the return in the next one. The veteran earned three break points and seized the first to pull the break back and level the score at 5-5. Andy fought hard in the 11th game and defended three break points to remain on the positive side. Draper faced a set point at 5-6 and protected it with a booming serve that gave him confidence ahead of the tie break. Jack moved 3-1 up after Andy’s forehand error before netting a smash in the sixth point to bring the rival back. They traded more mini-breaks in the ninth and tenth points, and Murray faced a set point after spraying a backhand error at 5-5.
He denied it with a forehand crosscourt winner before falling 7-6 behind after a volley error at the net. Draper landed an ace in the 14th point to wrap up the set and gain a massive boost. They served well in the second set’s opening five games to remain neck and neck after an hour and 45 minutes. Andy lost focus in the sixth point and netted a routine forehand to fall 4-2 behind and send his rival closer to the finish line. Jack saved two break points in the seventh game to cement the lead and open a 5-2 gap. Andy served to stay in the match in the eighth game and forged a 40-0 lead. The veteran squandered four game points and netted a forehand to offer Jack a match point. Murray hit a double fault to propel the young gun over the top and into the fourth round.
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