Jack Draper is proving he belongs among the elite in men’s tennis, according to his coach James Trotman, who has praised the Brit’s belief and development on the biggest stage.

The world No. 14 continued his impressive start to 2025 by defeating Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-5 in the Indian Wells quarter-finals, just two weeks after reaching the final in Doha.

With a semi-final clash against Carlos Alcaraz now on the horizon, Trotman shared insights into Draper’s evolution and what it will take to overcome the world No. 3.

Draper’s Growth and Confidence at the Top Level

Since beginning their full-time partnership in late 2021, when Draper was ranked outside the top 250, Trotman has seen a dramatic transformation in his game and mindset.

“I think a lot of hard work has gone into these years,” Trotman told Sky Sports. “There’s been a lot of game development, and we’re always focusing on that.”

The coach emphasized how much Draper now believes in his ability to compete with the world’s best.

“He feels like he belongs at this level and can perform against the top players on the biggest stage,” he added.

Draper’s rise hasn’t come without its challenges, including injury setbacks. A minor issue in the off-season limited his match play, but despite that, he made a strong run in Australia, reached the final in Doha, and is now into the Indian Wells semi-finals.

“For the amount of tennis he’s played, he’s performed really well,” Trotman said. “We just need to get more tournaments under his belt while continuing to work on his body and making the right decisions at the right time.”

Facing Alcaraz: The Key to Victory

Draper now faces a major test against Carlos Alcaraz, who has dominated Indian Wells in recent years winning the last two titles and 32 of his last 34 sets at the tournament.

Trotman knows his player will have to be at his best.

“Look, he’s going to have to serve well—there’s no doubt about it,” Trotman said. “If Jack’s serve is firing, it’s a weapon against anybody in the world. It’ll help him build pressure, relax, and play more aggressively.”

He also highlighted the importance of keeping up the pace against the Spaniard.

“You don’t want to drop your ball speed too much against Carlos and allow him to dictate with his physicality,” he explained.

Head-to-Head: Can Draper Even the Score?

Alcaraz holds a 3-1 advantage in their rivalry, but Draper has proven he can beat the four-time Grand Slam champion.

His lone victory came on grass in London in 2024 with a 7-6(3), 6-3 win.

Their most recent encounter, however, ended in disappointment for Draper. At the 2025 Australian Open, he was forced to retire with hip discomfort after falling two sets behind.

Now fully fit and playing some of his best tennis, Draper has another shot at taking down one of the sport’s most dominant players. With his serve, confidence, and aggressive play, he’ll look to pull off one of the biggest wins of his career at Indian Wells.

Iga Swiatek’s semifinal loss to Mirra Andreeva at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells was filled with drama.

The defending champion saw her title defense come to an abrupt end on Friday, March 14, as the 17-year-old Andreeva staged a stunning upset.

Swiatek, who had previously claimed the Indian Wells title in 2022 and 2024, had looked dominant throughout the tournament, securing convincing wins over Carolina Garcia, Dayana Yastremska, Karolina Muchova, and Zheng Qinwen.

However, her clash with Andreeva proved to be an entirely different challenge.

The young Russian fought hard to take the opening set in a tense tiebreak, 7-6(1). Swiatek responded emphatically in the second, dropping just one game to level the match.

But the final set saw the 23-year-old struggle, starting with an early break of serve that put her on the back foot.

As frustration mounted, Swiatek’s emotions spilled over. In a heated moment, she slammed a ball into the ground after receiving it from a ball kid.

The ball bounced straight up into the stands near her team, causing the ball kid to flinch.

Given past incidents where players like Novak Djokovic, Miyu Kato, and Denis Shapovalov were defaulted for accidentally hitting on-court staff, Swiatek’s outburst sparked online debate, with many fans arguing that she had “narrowly escaped a disqualification.”

Later in the third set, with Andreeva leading 3-1 on serve, Swiatek rushed to the chair umpire, appearing to “argue” that she was being distracted by the movement of the ball kids during her opponent’s serve.

Ultimately, Swiatek couldn’t regain her composure, falling to Andreeva in a match that will be remembered for both its high-quality tennis and its controversy.

Mirra Andreeva maintained her momentum, extending her lead and sealing the victory with a final score of 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-3. She will now take on Aryna Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final on Sunday, March 16.

Iga Swiatek also took her frustrations out on her team after Dubai loss to Mirra Andreeva

This isn’t the first time Iga Swiatek has shown frustration toward her team in recent weeks. Just last month, Mirra Andreeva claimed her first-ever victory over the five-time Grand Slam champion at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

After suffering a 6-3, 6-3 quarterfinal defeat to the eventual champion, Swiatek visibly snubbed her coach, Wim Fissette, as he approached to console her.

At the Qatar Open, where she was aiming for a fourth consecutive title, Swiatek once again struggled this time against Jelena Ostapenko, marking her fifth straight loss to the Latvian.

Frustration boiled over during the match as she uncharacteristically slammed her racquet to the ground in anger.

Now, the world No.1 will look to regroup quickly as she shifts her focus to the Miami Open, where she hopes to capture her second title after her triumph in 2022.

4o

Jannik Sinner continues to carve out his place among tennis greats. As of Monday, the 23-year-old has officially begun his 40th week as the world’s No. 1, a milestone that places him alongside Ilie Nastase and brings him one step closer to Andy Murray on the all-time list.

Sinner’s achievement is even more remarkable considering he joins an elite club of players who have held the top spot for at least 40 weeks during their first stint as world No. 1.

The challenge of maintaining the position is immense, but Sinner has proven he is built differently.

His name now stands alongside legendary figures such as Roger Federer, Jimmy Connors, Lleyton Hewitt, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and Ilie Nastase.

Even as he serves his current ban, Sinner will remain at the top of the rankings. If Alexander Zverev fails to overtake him by the end of April, Sinner will match Nadal’s 46-week mark and move further up the rankings. After that, his next target will be Novak Djokovic’s record.

Ilie Nastase, who became the first-ever world No. 1 in ATP history, held the position for 40 weeks between 1973 and 1974 during his initial reign.

Jimmy Connors, one of the most dominant players of his era, managed a staggering 160 consecutive weeks at the top after surpassing Nastase.

His streak could have reached an astonishing 245 weeks, but Bjorn Borg briefly interrupted his run for a single week in August 1977.

Nearly 25 years later, Lleyton Hewitt rose to prominence, taking the No. 1 ranking between 2001 and 2003 and accumulating 75 weeks at the top.

Then came Roger Federer, who rewrote the history books between 2004 and 2008, holding the No. 1 position for an extraordinary four and a half years.

Federer’s first reign lasted an incredible 237 weeks, a record that remains one of the toughest in the sport to surpass.

Rafael Nadal made his mark in the summer of 2008, dethroning Federer and holding the top spot for 46 weeks.

Novak Djokovic followed in 2011 after a phenomenal season, surpassing Nadal’s mark with 53 weeks at No. 1 during his first reign.

Andy Murray had his moment in 2016, battling Djokovic for the coveted No. 1 ranking and finally securing it after defeating his rival in the ATP Finals title match.

The Brit remained at the top for 41 weeks, surpassing Nastase and placing himself sixth on the list.

Now, Sinner is set to overtake Murray in just two weeks. If he maintains his lead heading into the Rome Masters, he has a legitimate shot at matching Djokovic’s 53-week record during his first tenure at No. 1.

That would cement his place as the fourth-longest reigning first-time world No. 1 in ATP history.

Should he regain top form after his three-month absence and deliver strong performances at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Sinner’s reign could extend even further.

At that point, Lleyton Hewitt’s 75-week mark might become his next target.

As Sinner’s journey continues, the tennis world watches in anticipation, eager to see just how high he can climb in the sport’s history books.