Jack Draper hails 'coming-of-age victory' at Indian Wells as Tim Henman labels maiden ATP 1000 Masters title 'a big statement'

Jack Draper hailed a "coming-of-age" performance after he emphatically stormed to victory in the BNP Paribas Open final at Indian Wells.

The British No 1 powered past Holger Rune in straight sets, 6-2 6-2, in just 68 minutes to secure a maiden ATP Masters 1000 title.

The victory moved Draper up to No 7 in the ATP singles rankings - jumping up seven places from 14th.

Draper made a fast start, breaking Rune in the opening game, then doing so again at his next attempt en route to taking the first set in half an hour. He was then a break up at the first opportunity again in set two as he surged to victory.

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"I wasn't expecting it at the start of the week," Draper told Sky Sports. "I had a rocky start to the year with an injury, so to be in this position now is beyond words.

"I speak to my coach a lot about these later rounds in tournaments. I've lost matches in the past because I've gone passive and haven't taken it to the opponent and played on my terms and played to win.

"To play the way I did from the first ball, to look for my forehand, to serve well, it's a good, coming-of-age moment for my game."

With victory set to lift Draper to a career-high seventh in the world rankings on Monday, he added: "I feel like I deserve it in all honesty.

"The amount of adversity I've been through, the amount of sacrifices, the amount of time all the people around me have put into me and the hard work.

"It's an emotional feeling to know how much you've gone through and put in and to be here now, to say I'm going to seven in the world, I can't tell you how much that means to me."

Draper continued: "I want to be a top player, I want to keep improving, but I kind of work hard and see what comes because my dream is doing what I'm doing.

"To play on the big stages against the best players in the world, to have the opportunities I have. Winning these big tournaments is an added bonus."

'I want to be a great player'

Draper's goal is to become a "great player" but he declined to set a particular event or ranking as a target.

"I'm not really thinking about any outcomes, ranking-wise or events-wise. I feel like I have achieved a lot in the last year and it's been nothing to do with setting goals," he said.

"Setting goals and saying you're going to do something, it's important to believe it but if you're not putting in the work and putting in the sacrifice and the days of consistency together, then you're not going to achieve anything.

"Obviously I want to be a great player and I want to achieve amazing things in this sport but my main goal is to keep on improving and keep on knuckling down. I know there is a long way ahead of me. I'm very ambitious. I don't want to just stop here. I want to keep on going."

Moving on from this competition, he will have renewed confidence.

"It feels incredible to win here. I have been watching this tournament since I was a young guy, watching all the champions play on this big court. It means the world to me, honestly, to be able to be a champion here," he continued.

"It's definitely a big moment for me, getting inside the top 10 and to win my first Masters title just adds to my inner belief and confidence.

"I came in today knowing this is a final," he added. "In truth, I felt kind of a bit nervous before I played but then when I got out on the court, I felt amazing. I felt like I was in control. I knew what I needed to do."

'A day Draper will remember forever'

Two-time Indian Wells finalist Tim Henman said Draper had delivered a "statement" victory that will live long in the memory of the British player.

"Absolutely brilliant performance," Henman said on Sky Sports Tennis. "It's been building, not just in this tournament but over the last weeks, months and years.

"It's been great to see Jack come out and deliver time and again in the tournament where he didn't have the easiest draw.

"He absolutely took Rune apart 6-2 6-2 to win his first Masters title, this is a day he will remember forever."

Henman added: "Watching the match unfold, it was very much one-way traffic. The second set was going to be closer, we knew there was going to be a reaction, but Jack handled his emotions, game plan and strategy so well.

"When he didn't have any of the physical issues, he was then able to execute his game plan. To beat someone like Rune in straight sets is a big statement."

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(c) Sky Sports 2025: Jack Draper hails 'coming-of-age victory' at Indian Wells as Tim Henman labels maiden ATP 1000 Masters title 'a big statement'