Holger Rune Reflects on Indian Wells Final Loss to Jack Draper
Holger Rune admitted in his post-match press conference that Jack Draper “deserved to win” their Indian Wells final but felt he could have played more aggressively to put the Brit under greater pressure.
Draper, who became the first player since 2022 to defeat Carlos Alcaraz in the desert, backed up that impressive victory with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win over Rune to claim his first Masters 1000 title.
Draper’s Commanding Performance
The British star took control early, breaking Rune twice to race to a 4-0 lead before closing out the first set in just eight games. In the second, he secured two more breaks and never allowed Rune an opportunity to fight back.
Draper was nearly flawless throughout the match, firing 10 aces and converting four of his seven break points—all while not facing a single break point himself.
Rune: “I Wasn’t Fully Committed to My Aggressive Game”
While Rune acknowledged Draper’s superior performance, he couldn’t help but wonder if a more aggressive approach might have changed the outcome.
“I think I could have done my part better. The opportunities I had to play aggressively just weren’t good enough,” Rune admitted. “I’ve been playing well this tournament, making smart tactical choices, but I haven’t fully committed to my aggressive game.”
He further elaborated:
“Jack was playing extremely well, but the few chances I had to put pressure on him, I didn’t take, because I wasn’t really trusting every shot of my game today.”
Looking Ahead to Miami
Had Rune defeated Draper, he would have secured his first title since Munich 2023. Although his title drought continues, reaching his first Masters 1000 final in two years is a positive step forward.
Now, the 21-year-old Dane will shift his focus to the Miami Open, hoping to build on his progress and take another shot at a title.
