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- 🎾 Champions Crowned at Indian Wells
🎾 Champions Crowned at Indian Wells
Happy Tuesday! New champions shine at Indian Wells as rising stars Jack Draper and Mirra Andreeva capture career-defining titles.
In this week's newsletter:
📈 Draper Storms into Top 10 with Indian Wells Title
👑 Andreeva Dominates with Second Straight WTA 1000 Crown
🎾 Weekly Roundup: New Heights & New Kicks
🧠Tennis Trivia Challenge ðŸ§
Think you know your tennis? Take a swing at this week’s question! Difficulty: Medium
Ben Shelton became the youngest American man since which player to reach the Indian Wells quarterfinals? |
📈 Draper Storms into Top 10 with Indian Wells Title 📈
Image: The Athletic
Jack Draper’s path to Indian Wells glory was nothing short of spectacular. The 23-year-old Briton battled past João Fonseca, Jenson Brooksby, Taylor Fritz, and Ben Shelton before stunning two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, rebounding from a 6-0 second-set loss to win 6-1, 0-6, 6-4. His improved physicality and lethal left-handed serve overwhelmed even the tournament’s top names.
Draper delivered his best in the final, dismantling Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in just 68 minutes without facing a break point. His aggressive baseline play and pinpoint serving saw him win 92% of first-serve points, keeping Rune on the defensive throughout. The first Masters 1000 final between players born in the 2000s was one-sided, with Draper controlling both sets from start to finish. His composed celebration, kneeling with fists raised, highlighted the magnitude of his achievement.
Now world No. 7, Draper becomes the fifth British man to win a Masters 1000 title, joining Murray, Henman, Rusedski, and Norrie. After years of injury struggles, his breakthrough caps a remarkable turnaround following last year’s US Open semifinal run. "I feel like I deserve it," Draper said of his top-10 debut. "The adversity, the sacrifices... it’s an emotional feeling." With fitness finally matching talent, he heads to Miami as a true contender at the sport’s highest level.
👑 Andreeva Dominates with Second Straight WTA 1000 Crown 👑
Image: Los Angeles Times
Mirra Andreeva’s breakout season continues as she captures her second consecutive WTA 1000 title with a stunning Indian Wells victory, extending her winning streak to 12 matches. The 17-year-old Russian, who became the youngest WTA 1000 champion in Dubai last month, makes history again as the third-youngest Indian Wells winner, following Martina Hingis and Serena Williams. Her path to the title featured five seeded wins, including a semifinal upset over world No. 2 Iga Swiatek. She also became the youngest player in 40 years to defeat both the world’s top two players in a single tournament.
In the final, Andreeva rallied from a set down to upset top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. After dropping the first set in just 36 minutes, Andreeva showed remarkable poise, finally breaking Sabalenka after going 0-for-18 on break points against her this season. A key turning point came at 3-2 in the second set when Andreeva saved a break point with an extraordinary angle shot that left Sabalenka stunned. Mixing well-timed drop shots with elite defense, she gradually dismantled Sabalenka's power game, securing her first victory over a reigning World No. 1.
Andreeva has cemented herself as the best next-gen player, rising to a career-high No. 6 in yesterday’s rankings. Her victory was particularly sweet as she avenged coach Conchita MartÃnez, who twice lost in Indian Wells finals. "I know my coach lost in the finals—I'm going to try to be better than her," Andreeva said with a smile before the match. Now the youngest to win back-to-back WTA 1000 titles since Martina Hingis in 1997, Andreeva heads to Miami chasing the rare "Sunshine Double" as tennis's newest superstar.
🎾 Weekly Roundup: New Heights & New Kicks🎾
Image: New Balance
João Fonseca continues his remarkable ascent, capturing the Arizona Tennis Classic with a 7-6(5), 7-6(0) win over Alexander Bublik. The 18-year-old becomes the second-youngest South American, after Juan MartÃn del Potro, to win three Challenger titles, climbing to a career-high No. 60 in the ATP rankings.
Indian Wells crowned new doubles champions as Marcelo Arévalo and Mate Pavić secured the men’s title with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Sebastian Korda and Jordan Thompson. In women’s doubles, Asia Muhammad and Demi Schuurs capture their first WTA 1000 trophy together by overcoming Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls 6-2, 7-6(4).
Alexander Bublik and Corentin Moutet had to be separated by the umpire following their fiery Phoenix Challenger quarterfinal. After Bublik's 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 victory, the players engaged in a heated argument at the net. The tension had begun earlier when Moutet said, "I'm not ready," to disrupt Bublik’s quick serve, prompting Bublik to snap back, "I don't give a s---."
Happy 21st birthday, Coco Gauff! She celebrated the occasion by launching her latest New Balance sneaker, the Coco Delray, named after her Florida hometown. Priced at $110, it blends on-court performance with off-court style, with a campaign narrated by her grandmother, highlighting the community that shaped her.
LeBron James recognizes the rise of Mirra Andreeva. After she revealed LeBron’s interview about mental strength inspired her championship performance, LeBron responded on Instagram: "Happy to have helped but honestly YOU did that! All your hardwork, drive and dedication towards your craft! Keep going!"
