Draper, Rune secure semi-final spots at Indian Wells Masters 

UTS stars Jack Draper and Holger Rune advanced to the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday. Draper defeated Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-5 after Rune battled to a 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 victory over Tallon Griekspoor. The Draper-Shelton quarter-final showdown was a battle between former UTS champions.

Draper is on fire at the Indian Wells Masters, just as he has been pretty much all year long. The 14th-ranked Brit has not dropped a single set in the desert while improving his match record for the year to 11-2. 

For Rune, this much-need result is more of a surprise. The 13th-ranked Dane was just 6-6 for his 2025 campaign heading into Indian Wells but appears to have regained the form that once carried him as high as No. 4 in the world. Rune twice came back from a set down (against Griekspoor and Ugo Humbert) and he also beat Dubai champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 in the fourth round. 

 
“I think the results (are) so far good,” the 21-year-old said during his post-match press conference after beating Griekspoor. “I think mentally I was good – also very good today finding solutions when it mattered. (I’m) very happy on how I found a way when it was some close moments. Tallon is a big-time player, so (I’m) very happy to be through.”

Next up for Rune in the semifinals on Saturday is Daniil Medvedev, while Draper will face two-time defending Indian Wells champion Carlos Alcaraz. 
Rune, aka “The Viking,” is a four-time UTS participant and has twice finished runner-up at the Grand Final in London (2023, 2024). Draper, aka “The Power,” beat Rune in the final of the 2023 London showpiece.