Draper reveals his great success: "I felt like I was in control, I knew what I had to do"

The Briton reflected on what it means to achieve his first Masters 1000, as well as delving into the reasons why he adapted so well to the conditions of Indian Wells.

Carlos Navarro | 17 Mar 2025 | 01.24
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Jack Draper. Source: Getty
Jack Draper. Source: Getty

Jack Draper is the man of the week. The British player set the pace for the 1000 Masters in Indian Wells 2025, putting together a spectacular week where he surpassed names like Fritz, Shelton, Alcaraz, and a neutralized Holger Rune in a final turned mere formality. Approaching each match with the vigor of a great champion and the composure of a veteran, the Briton appeared at the press conference, already holding the championship trophy, and offered a brief recap of his last 24 hours, from his triumph over the Murcian to lifting his first major title.

- Feelings after a magnificent final... and his first title of Masters 1000

"Winning here is an incredible feeling. I've watched this tournament since I was young, seeing great champions play on this grand court. Being able to crown myself champion here means everything to me. I couldn't think about it until the last ball. Before the match, you think about all possible scenarios in your head, you have many doubts, you think you might lose: overcoming and rising above those doubts, playing the final the way I did, makes this triumph much greater. I am very happy and proud of my successes this week."

- Is this the moment of complete breakthrough for Jack Draper? How were his last hours after the victory over Carlos?

"It's a great moment for me, for sure. Being part of the top-10 and winning my first Masters title gives me a lot of confidence in myself. Yesterday was an immense moment for me; it had been a long time since I felt that way on a tennis court. That third set yesterday was crucial for me because today I stepped onto the court knowing I was playing a final. I was somewhat nervous before the match, but as soon as I stood on the court, I felt incredible. I felt like I was in control. I knew what I had to do. I went for it and played to win."

- What did he feel after the last point, when he knew he was the Masters 1000 champion?

"I thought about how you train every day, how you sacrifice and work every day with your team and family. I have years and years of work: becoming one of the players I saw winning this tournament is something I have tried to savor, I have tried to stay there and enjoy the emotions I experienced, something I perhaps couldn't achieve when I won my first title. When I knelt down after winning, I tried to look around and savor it all, experience that intense sensation of being the winner, something I have worked so hard for."

- Keys to his adaptation to the unique conditions of Indian Wells

"Last year I felt very uncomfortable here. My serve was suffering, I didn't feel as in control of the ball, and mentally, I checked out. I knew this tournament was going to be a challenge, not only for me, but for many players. Both Taylor and Carlos (whom he defeated) play in a way that is very aggressive with their forehands and serve very well. As the matches went by, I felt more and more confident. Today, I believe I tried to use my strengths: I felt I served very well, sought diligently my forehand and the bounce it generates. I am proud of how I have accepted the conditions of Indian Wells and have been able to play this way."

- A mental rollercoaster: from defeating Alcaraz to winning his first Masters 1000

"After the victory over Carlos, I relaxed, honestly. I took an ice bath, followed my usual routine, and rested. I didn't sleep very well last night, I woke up quite tired, but it has happened to me many times: you play a great match the next day, and sometimes your mind wants to tell you that you are tired and suffering. However, in training, I have tried to become very consistent. From Monday to Saturday, there are many days during the week where you don't feel 100%, where you might not feel energetic: it's important that when you train on those days, you push yourself to the limit because you might face something similar during competition."

I tried not to dwell on it too much. I felt somewhat fatigued this morning due to all the emotions from yesterday, but I was in a final, I had worked extremely hard to get here, I had beaten five great players, so it wasn't a time to be tired. I had to step onto the court and give my all on every ball, regardless of how I was feeling, simply put my head down and fight for everything."

- His short-term horizon after three major tournaments at the beginning of the year

"I'm not thinking about results in terms of ranking or events. I achieved many things last year, and in no case was it about setting goals. It's important to believe that you can do something, but if you don't work, sacrifice, and stay consistent, you won't achieve anything. My coach and I try to approach the routine of this sport in a very structured and consistent way to avoid bad days: maybe on a bad day, my level is very high. I want to continue being a great player, to achieve big things in this sport, but my main goal is to keep improving. I know I have a long way to go. I am very ambitious, I don't want to stop here, I want to keep going for everything."

 

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Draper desgrana su gran éxito: "Sentí que estaba en control, que sabía lo que tenía que hacer"