Spanish tennis talent Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the Indian Wells quarterfinals after England’s Jack Draper withdrew due to illness, yielding a clean path in a last-16 match that lasted 47 minutes. Alcaraz dominated the opener, taking it 6-2, and despite Draper’s early second-set resistance at 2-0, he was forced to retire, leaving the match with an upset stomach the reason given for the exit. After the win, Alcaraz sent a quick message of well wishes to Draper via the US broadcast camera: Get well soon, Jack.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz, who reached the semifinals in this California desert event in 2022 before losing to Spain’s Rafael Nadal in a memorable showdown, aims for a spot in the semifinal against the winner of the quarterfinal clash between American Tommy Paul and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. The matchups on Tuesday highlighted the final stages of this year’s Indian Wells, where speculation and anticipation run high.
In the other quarterfinals, Alexander Davidovich delivered a convincing 6-3, 6-4 victory over Chilean Cristian Garín in 84 minutes, reinforcing Spain’s strong presence in the tournament. Davidovich faces Russian Daniil Medvedev, who has already collected three titles this season, in a high-stakes quarterfinal that could reshape the late-stage landscape.
Alcaraz has shown positive momentum, suggesting a solid recovery from the hamstring issue that briefly cast doubt on his participation in Indian Wells. The 19-year-old Spaniard faced a rising 21-year-old rival in Draper, but quickly regained control with superb shot selection and a reliable serve. He methodically built the first-set lead and closed it out in 37 minutes, displaying the kind of precision and composure that have earned him international attention.
Draper, who had earlier defeated his idol Andy Murray in the preceding round, battled to hold serve but was unable to sustain the fight as Alcaraz’s level rose. Draper appeared to push hard in the opening stages of the second set, briefly stalling the momentum before finally withdrawing. The match history between the two remains brief, with Draper’s exit cutting the narrative short.
With Novak Djokovic absent from this edition due to travel restrictions linked to vaccination requirements, Alcaraz holds a favorable position in the tournament standings. A victory in Indian Wells would add to his ascent toward reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking, a race currently in Djokovic’s hands after this event. Following Indian Wells, Alcaraz will look to defend his Miami Open title from 2022, which marked his first Masters 1000 triumph and helped establish his rising trajectory in the sport.