British No 1 comes from behind to beat Serb 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Hard-fought win is first of Draper’s tennis career over Djokovic
Jack Draper overcame Novak Djokovic for the first time in his career to keep the defence of his Indian Wells title on track. The 24-year-old Briton came through a gripping match lasting more than two-and-a-half hours in a deciding tiebreak to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
Djokovic took a hard-fought opening set 6-4 but Draper responded by taking a second break point in the opening game of the second. The Serb broke back and Draper appeared in trouble in the eighth game when he was pegged back from 40-0 to deuce before eventually holding.
A powerful forehand winner down the line in the next earned Draper three break points at 0-40 and he broke with the first when Djokovic netted. Djokovic refused to roll over and saved two set points before an ace finally drew the left-hander level.
