Draper faces Djokovic in Indian Wells title defence

JACK Draper will continue his Indian Wells title defence against Novak Djokovic after an impressive win on Monday — while Cameron Norrie claimed a major third-round scalp.

British number one Draper beat Argentina’s world number 20 Francisco Cerundolo 6-1 7-5 to set up a last-16 meeting with 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.

Djokovic, the world number three, overcame American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4 1-6 6-4 to keep his own campaign going.

British number two Norrie also reached the fourth round by upsetting the sixth seed, Australia’s Alex de Minaur, 6-4 6-4.

Draper, 24, returned last week after an eight-month absence from the ATP Tour because of an arm injury.

And the world number 14 continued his comeback with a more commanding performance than he delivered during his second-round win over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.

He is glad to be back but eager to stress these are early days in his mission to recover prime form.

Draper claimed the first set inside 32 minutes before Cerundolo provided a sterner test in the second, breaking Draper’s serve in the opening game.

A further break meant Cerundolo had the chance to serve for the set at 5-4 up, but Draper resisted and took the next three games to clinch victory on his first match point.

Draper’s win means he will face 38-year-old Djokovic for the first time since he took the first set off the defending champion on his Wimbledon debut in 2021.

—BBC

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