British number one Jack Draper has made history by reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 final after a dramatic upset win over world number two Carlos Alcaraz at the Indian Wells tournament. Draper edged out Alcaraz in a thrilling three-set match, taking the final set 6-4 to secure his spot in the championship.
The victory marked a significant milestone for Draper, who had never previously advanced to an ATP Masters 1000 final. The 23-year-old Brit overcame a nervy performance from Alcaraz, winning two sets before succumbing to a comeback by the Spanish star.
However, controversy surrounded the final set when chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani called a point for Draper after he hit a shot that appeared to have bounced twice. Video review technology was used to review the call, and it was revealed that Draper had indeed hit the ball before it bounced twice. The review ultimately led to an exchange between Draper and Alcaraz at the net.
Despite some controversy surrounding the final set, both players praised the video review system that was in use during the match. “It’s a really good thing,” said Draper in his post-match press conference. “I felt like I got the ball up, and then also, I know that Carlos had only just gotten to it and he missed it wide.”
Alcaraz also acknowledged the impact of the video review system on the match, stating that it did not affect his play at all. The Spaniard will now look ahead to his next tournament at the Miami Open, where the men’s singles main draw begins on March 19.
Draper, meanwhile, will aim to put this controversy behind him and focus on the upcoming Indian Wells final against Holger Rune.
Source: https://www.thetennisgazette.com/news/jack-draper-shares-what-he-said-to-carlos-alcaraz-and-the-umpire-at-the-net-during-controversial-video-review-incident