Jack Draper, the British number one, showcased his exceptional talent on March 8, 2025, with a stunning 6-4, 6-0 victory over Brazil's Joao Fonseca at the BNP Paribas Open. The match, played at Indian Wells, marked Draper's impressive entry to the third round of the tournament.
Fonseca, just 18 years old, came to this face-off after defeating Jacob Fearnley in the first round. But against Draper, who is currently ranked World No. 14, the young Brazilian struggled to maintain his momentum. Draper executed nine consecutive games, sealing the match with confidence and precision.
The British player began the match by breaking Fonseca’s serve early on, before the Brazilian managed to level the game. Despite some resistance from Fonseca, it was Draper who dominated the encounter, particularly evident during the ninth game of the first set when he created another break opportunity, which he capitalized on to serve for the set. Draper faced and saved three break points, showcasing his resilience before eventually clinching the set with Fonseca’s wide return.
Entering the second set with momentum, Draper quickly established control, breaking Fonseca right away. This early setback seemed to rattle Fonseca, as Draper grew more dominant with each game, displaying aggressive service holds and capitalizing on errors from his opponent.
With Draper leading 4-0, the match continued to spiral away from Fonseca. Draper secured another break as he capitalized on yet another unforced error from the teenager, effectively dismantling Fonseca’s confidence. Even when he faced some challenges, including several double faults, Draper held firm, eventually pushing through to victory.
Reflecting on his performance, Draper commented on the hype surrounding Fonseca, saying, “Obviously Joao’s got a lot of eyeballs on him, a young player coming through, causing a lot of noise. I was expecting a really tough match and it was. I am just very proud of my performance...” This professionalism under pressure speaks volumes about Draper's maturity as he continues to develop his career.
The victory sends Draper through to face American player Jenson Brooksby, who unexpectedly defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime, the world number 18, with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-2. Such advancements could bolster Draper’s position, especially after he finished as runner-up in Doha earlier this year.
Draper’s ambitions for this tournament are clear; he aims to build on his prior performances and secure a strong position among the best players globally. His comments indicated this intent, stating, “The main thing I want to do is when I am playing I want to go out there and get it right and compete harder, and hopefully go deep in these tournaments now.”
Despite the convincing nature of Draper’s victory, he acknowledged areas for improvement, especially concerning his serving, where he struggled with double faults. While Draper managed to win against Fonseca, he expressed, “It’s just getting my rhythm right.” His ability to identify such elements for growth points to his professional outlook.
Carlos Alcaraz, the tournament’s number two seed, also progressed smoothly, defeating French qualifier Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-2, indicating his current form and threat level within the tournament. On the women's side, British number three Sonay Kartal continued her advance, securing a 6-2, 6-1 victory against Brazilian player Beatriz Haddad Maia, ranked 17th globally.
This match served as not just another step forward for Draper but also as a reminder of the rising young talents within tennis. Joao Fonseca, with his breakout win last month and vibrant playstyle, is on track to becoming one of the sport’s bright stars. Draper, meanwhile, continues to shine as the British number one and looks poised for greater success.
With the momentum firmly on Draper’s side, the tennis world will be watching closely as he heads to the next round against Brooksby, armed with confidence after such an exemplary performance.