Defending champion Jack Draper battles past Bautista Agut to secure Indian Wells third round
Jack Draper overcame a one-set deficit to defeat Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday and will face Francisco Cerundolo in the next round.
Jack Draper, 2025 | © Javier Garcia/Shutterstock/SIPA
Englishman Jack Draper secured a hard-fought victory against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut on Saturday evening. He prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the round of 32 at the BNP Paribas Open. The world No 14 demonstrated significant mental composure in the desert wind. He ultimately outlasted the veteran Spaniard in a physical contest. The match lasted one hour and 46 minutes.
The victory sets up a third-round encounter against Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo. The No 19 seed reached the round of 32 by defeating Benjamin Bonzi in a final set tiebreak. Draper enters the matchup as the 14th seed. He will look to find his rhythm early to reach the second week in California. This progress is vital for the Briton as he returns from a significant injury layoff.
Draper : “Competed hard”
“Bautista is a really tough opponent,” Draper noted in his post-match press conference. “I didn’t quite get my rhythm in the first set but then definitely settled down. I had a bit more of a spark about me in the second and third. I was happy with the way I came through and competed hard.”
The defining element was Draper’s immediate tactical response at the start of the second set. He broke in the opening game to establish a 3-0 lead. He then repeated the feat early in the third set to lead 3-1. These early breaks prevented Bautista Agut from mounting a comeback. Draper won 75% of his first-serve points to maintain control. He successfully recentered his focus during tight moments in the final set.
British left-hander adapts to windy conditions to overcome Spanish veteran
The match opened with Bautista Agut dictating play in swirly conditions. The Spaniard had momentum from a three-set win over Fabian Marozsan. He capitalized on Draper’s lack of rhythm to take the first set. Draper responded by increasing his intensity. He moved the veteran Spaniard across the baseline more effectively. The third set saw the Englishman dial up his focus during close line calls. He closed out the match with aggressive groundstrokes to confirm his advancement.
