Draper cools Shelton to reach first ATP Masters 1000 SF

In a marquee matchup of young stars on similar upward trajectories, Jack Draper edged Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-5 in Thursday's BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals.

In their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, the 23-year-old Draper and 22-year-old Shelton were each seeking their first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final in their third quarter-final appearance. Each with two tour-level titles to their name, the lefties entered the match separated by 20 points in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, both on the cusp of the Top 10.

"I didn't know what to expect today, honestly," Draper said post-match. "I'd hit with Ben maybe once or twice, but very short practices. I've obviously watched a lot of him, he's an incredible showman [with] weapons... can hit a winner from anywhere. The serve's obviously huge. He's a great competitor and he's been really consistent.

"I knew coming out here facing him on on this court in front of the Americans was was going to be really difficult today and it was. Huge respect to him, huge credit him. He's going to keep on winning, keep on having an amazing career, so I wish him all the best."

We see it but we don't believe it 🤯@jackdraper0 | @BNPPARIBASOPEN | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/jN62rv4trU

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There was little to separate the competitors on a chilly evening in Stadium 2. Draper took the opening set behind its only break, then battled back from 0-3 in the second set in a big-hitting battle. While both players were eager to attack throughout the match, Shelton struggled with his consistency and hit five double faults, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Two of those double faults came in his crucial service game at 5-5 in the second set, including on break point.

After beating Jenson Brooksby in the third round and 2022 Indian Wells champ Taylor Fritz in the fourth round, Draper has now knocked out three home favourites in succession. While there are no Americans left in the singles draw, the Briton could face fan favourite Carlos Alcaraz next — if the two-time defending champion can get past Francisco Cerundolo.

Just the fourth left-hander to reach the Indian Wells semis this century (Nadal, Norrie, Labadze), Draper is through to his 10th tour-level semi-final. His two biggest semi-final showings have come in the past six months on hard courts — at the 2024 US Open and this week in Indian Wells.

"It means so much to me," Draper said of his deepest ATP Masters 1000 run. "It's why I'm playing, why I put all the hard work in with my team — to play these matches on these courts and especially in a place like this. It's what I've wanted since I was a kid and to be here now is a bit surreal.

"But that's tennis. I keep on going, I want more, and I'm looking forward to the next match already."

Up three places this week to No. 11 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Draper could make his Top 10 debut by reaching the final.