Not exactly the same version of himself, Jack Draper still found enough fight to open his Indian Wells title defense with a comeback win.
The defending champion scraped past Roberto Bautista Agut in three sets on Stadium 2, a match that felt as much like a tune-up as a statement after a long injury layoff and limited match play.
Draper Battles Back In Three Sets
I wouldn’t be here, wouldn’t be in the tournament if I didn’t feel like I could go all the way again.
Jack Draper
Draper needed a comeback to get past Bautista Agut, dropping the first set before turning the match around to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 and advance into the later rounds of the BNP Paribas Open.
The win was athletic and mental work in equal measure, with Draper saving breakpoints late in the decider and showing a competitive edge that comes from having won here already.
That edge was tested after a lengthy absence from the tour; he has been out for roughly eight months with a serving-arm injury and has only just started rebuilding match rhythm heading into this tournament.
Despite the layoff his confidence has not evaporated, and he climbed back on court knowing the task would be different as the defending champion rather than the hungry challenger.
Fritz Advances, Korda Falls Short
Taylor Fritz also had to grind on Saturday, edging Jacob Fearnley in a three-set match with a scoreline of 6-3, 7-6(8), 6-1, reminding everyone he remains a threat on these courts.
Fritz, who lifted the Indian Wells trophy in 2022, is still the only American to win here since 2001, and his steady progress through the draw keeps U.S. hopes alive in the men’s field.
American Sebastian Korda could not get past Alex de Miñaur, dropping a tight three-setter 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, a loss that hands the Australian a meeting with former champion Cameron Norrie next.
What The Win Means For Draper
There is history behind Draper’s confidence; last year he stunned Carlos Alcaraz in the semis and beat Holger Rune in the final to lift his first Masters 1000 crown, a run that pushed him to a career-high ranking of fourth.
That breakthrough was followed by frustration, and the decision to shut down his 2025 campaign cost him time, but it also gave him space to manage the injury and return with a clearer plan for his body and schedule.
He admitted the lack of match practice is a handicap, having played only three matches in 2026 before facing Bautista, yet he also emphasized that match intensity cannot be replicated in practice alone.
Coaches and rivals will be watching how Draper manages his minutes and recovery; the draw offers dangerous matchups, and a potential quarter-final clash with Novak Djokovic looms as a reality if both progress.
Beyond the headline result, Draper stressed the mental value of long matches, saying the three-set fight was useful for rebuilding trust in his body and sharpening the edge that winning under pressure brings.
For fans this is vintage tournament drama: a defending champion not quite fully tuned, a few Americans still in the mix, and the steady churn of big names that makes Indian Wells feel like a season within a season.
Keep an eye on Draper as he seeks to protect the points he earned last year and avoid slipping in the rankings after time away; he knows the task ahead and has at least shown he can find a spark when it matters.
He may be a cautious version of last year’s champion, but the will to grind through tight moments is intact, and that might be enough to make him dangerous again as the tournament unfolds.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
