8 hours Ago By Tom Blow
Jack Draper has promised to "keep on going" after reaching the semifinals of the Indian Wells Open . The 23-year-old will play No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz in the last four after beating home favorite Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-5 on Thursday.
Draper's triumph means he'll play in the semifinals of an ATP Tour Masters 1000 event for the first time. The Brit was delighted with his victory against No. 11 seed Shelton and is determined to enjoy even more success.
"It means so much to me," Draper said on court after beating Shelton. FOX broadcast firing demanded after 'awful' NASCAR mishap Denny Hamlin put in his place by reporter over latest 23XI and NASCAR frustrations "It’s why I’m playing and why I put all the hard work in with my team. To play these matches on these courts.
.. especially a place like this.
.. it’s what I wanted since I was a kid.
"To be here now is a bit surreal. That’s tennis. I keep on going.
I want more. Looking forward to the next match already." Draper, who is the No.
13 seed at Indian Wells, is quickly becoming one of the biggest names in men's tennis. He reached the semifinals of last year's U.S.
Open , where he lost to eventual winner Jannik Sinner , and he reached the second week at this year's Australian Open . Draper won both the Stuttgart Open and the Vienna Open last year, having reached three other ATP Tour finals during his career. He also claimed five ATP Challenger Tour titles between 2022 and 2023.
Yet Draper will not be considered a serious threat in men's tennis until he wins a Grand Slam or Masters 1000 event. Speaking last year, Draper insisted he was ready to become the next superstar of men's British tennis. The last British man to win a Grand Slam was Andy Murray, who became a two-time Wimbledon champion back in 2016.
Murray also claimed victory at the U.S. Open in 2012, ending Britain's 76-year wait for a men's singles champion at a Grand Slam.
"I want to take over from Andy's legacy, what he did for British tennis," said Draper, as per the Daily Mail . "I don't see any reason why I can't if I keep on working hard, keeping the right people around me. As Andy said, focus on the process not the outcome.
" Alcaraz booked his place in the semifinals at Indian Wells by beating Francisco Cerundolo, the No. 25 seed, 6-3, 7-6 on Thursday. Draper knows how to beat Alcaraz, having knocked the four-time Grand Slam champion out of Queen's Club last year.
The winner of Draper's match with Alcaraz will face either No. 12 seed Holger Rune or No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev in the final at Indian Wells.
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