Jack Draper makes feelings clear about confrontation with chair umpire over not-up call during Indian Wells semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz

Jack Draper progressed to his first Indian Wells final after knocking out two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals.

Jack Draper makes feelings clear about confrontation with chair umpire over not-up call during Indian Wells semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper (Image via X)

Jack Draper knew that Carlos Alcaraz has the ability to bounce back despite a mediocre performance. After winning the first set of the semifinal match of the Indian Wells Open on Saturday (March 15) against Alcaraz in 23 minutes, Draper succumbed to a 0-6 defeat in the second set.

When the match was pushed into the third set and both were 1-1 with points locked at 15-15, Draper broke Alcaraz’s serve but not without some drama. Alcaraz hit a drop shot in an attempt to clinch a point to end a long rally. Both of them were playing from the baseline but when Alcaraz veered the ball toward the net, Draper came sprinting and returned the ball just in time.

YouTube video

Chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani, however, thought the ball had bounced twice before Draper hit it. Draper asked for a review and Lahyani confirmed that Draper was right. The umpire wanted the point to be replayed, thinking his not-up call could have hindered Alcaraz as the Spaniard’s ball landed outside after he had made the call.

FS Video

Draper protested and the point was eventually given to him. Draper, following his 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 win, opened up about the controversial incident.

It was a tough situation because obviously felt like I got the ball up, and then also, I know that Carlos had only just got to it and he missed it wide. So I asked Mohamed to look at the video review and was it clear that I got it up? But then it was the fact that I don’t think Carlos really had a good play on the ball and he missed it.

Jack Draper said at the press conference

Here’s the video of the incident:

Jack Draper would have replayed the point had Carlos Alcaraz challenged the call

Carlos Alcaraz didn’t attempt to challenge Mohamed Lahyani’s decision to award Jack Draper the point. He later also admitted that the umpire’s call didn’t bother him at all as he was rather focused on his shot. The Brit later said that had Alcaraz protested, he would have replayed the point.

Jack Draper (2)
Jack Draper (Image via X)

So yeah, of course, like, it is something I try and do and try and be fair and try and make the right calls. Yeah, if Carlos would have said to me that it would have affected his shot, and what have you, then of course I would have replayed the point.

Jack Draper said at the press conference

With this win, Draper moved into his first Indian Wells final and is to lock horns with Holger Rune next. The match, scheduled on Sunday (March 16) will be for the first time be played between ATP players born in the 2000s above the ATP 500 category.

Alcaraz’s attempt to join Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer with three consecutive Indian Wells titles was also ruined by Draper. The 21-year-old was bidding to win his second title of the season following his triumph over Alex de Minaur in the Rotterdam Open final which also made Alcaraz the champion in an indoor hard-court tournament for the first time.

Jack Draper improved head-to-head record over Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz met Jack Draper for the first time in Basel back in 2022 and won the match. After clinching a second consecutive victory over the 23-year-old in the 2023 Indian Wells fourth round, he was denied a chance to defend the title at the 2024 Queen’s Club Championships by Draper.

Jack Draper, Carlos Alcaraz
Jack Draper, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via ATP/X)

Alcaraz, before his four-set defeat to Novak Djokovic in the 2025 Australian Open quarterfinals, was given a walkover by Draper in the fourth round. With his win in the California desert, Draper has now improved his head-to-head record over the four-time Grand Slam champion to 2-3.