World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz acknowledged the challenge posed by British rising star Jack Draper ahead of their Indian Wells semifinal clash on Saturday. The Spaniard, chasing a historic third consecutive title at the ATP Masters event, praised Draper's "ambitious" style and adaptability to the Californian conditions.
Alcaraz, who holds a 3-1 head-to-head advantage but saw two matches end via Draper retirements, emphasized the 22-year-old left-hander's improved form: "He's in really good shape right now. His rhythm and pace make him dangerous." Draper enters the match after reaching a career-high ranking of No. 14 following his quarterfinal run at this year's Australian Open.
The other semifinal features Daniil Medvedev, who survived a grueling 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(9/7) quarterfinal against Arthur Fils. The Russian veteran now faces Denmark's Holger Rune in a rematch of last year's Indian Wells quarterfinal. Medvedev seeks his third straight final appearance at the tournament but has fallen to Alcaraz in both previous championship matches.
A potential Alcaraz-Medvedev final would mark their third consecutive Indian Wells title showdown, while a Draper victory could signal a changing of the guard at one of tennis' most prestigious events. The tournament's hardcourts have proven critical preparation for April's Sunshine Double, with players using the challenging conditions to tune their games ahead of the Miami Open.
