Jack Draper and Daniil Medvedev Exchange Heated Words After Hindrance Call

Daniil Medvedev will be facing Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters.

Jack Draper and Daniil Medvedev Exchange Heated Words After Hindrance Call

Daniil Medvedev and Jack Draper argued over a controversial hindrance call (Image via X/Jose Morgado, Sky Sports, Tennis TV)

In Short
  • Jack Draper's match against Daniil Medvedev ended in controversy over a hindrance call.
  • Medvedev's victory improved his head-to-head record against Draper to 2-0.
  • Draper acknowledged Medvedev played better but felt the hindrance call was unjust.

Defending champion Jack Draper‘s run at Indian Wells ended in a disappointing fashion. He was up against Daniil Medvedev, who easily clinched the first set, but found himself on the receiving end of criticism due to an incident in the 11th game of the second set.

During the rally, after Draper returned a shot, he raised his non-racket arm before Medvedev hit the ball. At that time, Medvedev did not protest about the hindrance but continued to play before he netted a backhand.

The point was ultimately awarded to the Russian ace who used the video review to prove that Draper caused hindrance. The Brit argued with chair umpire Aurelie Torte that his raising his arms was not a huge distraction for his opponent, but in vain.

Draper couldn’t understand why Medvedev, after the controversial hindrance, kept playing instead of stopping the rally. But Torte said Medvedev asked for the video review, and it proved that Draper “did something different in the rally than you would normally do.“

Draper was hugely upset with the hindrance call and told Medvedev during the customary handshake, “I don’t think it distracted you enough“. Medvedev also made it clear that he didn’t feel great about that point as well.

Watch the video here:

The win helped Medvedev improve his head-to-head record over the World No.14 to 2-0. Because of his failed title defense, Draper dropped to the No.26 spot in the live rankings.

Jack Draper comments on the controversial hindrance call

Jack Draper played a thrilling three-set match against Novak Djokovic in the fourth round and looked like he was physically spent during his match against Daniil Medvedev, as he was handed the breadstick in the first set in just 24 minutes. Although he tried to force a comeback in the second set, he did not blame the hindrance call for his defeat, admitting that Medvedev played better.

Jack Draper US Open 2025 arm injury
Jack Draper (image via Matt Fitzgerald)

Do I think it’s the reason why I lost the match? Absolutely not. I think Daniil was by far the stronger player. I do feel a bit hard done by because I didn’t think that it distracted him enough to lose the point. And it’s a difficult situation because obviously I did make a movement with my hands and the umpire had to make a call on it, but yeah, a little hard done by that I lost a point, but I can also see it from a subjective point of view.

Jack Draper told Tim Henman on Sky Sports

Draper beat Holger Rune in last year’s Indian Wells final to win his career’s first Big Title. Medvedev, although he has yet to win a trophy in the California desert, is a two-time finalist, losing to Carlos Alcaraz in 2023 and 2024. It’s Alcaraz he will be facing next.

Right now, I feel that I’m playing excellent tennis. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, saying it’s the best tennis of my life, but the fact that the court here is slightly faster and the balls are different makes me think that I have a great opportunity to showcase my best performance against Carlos. I know he is the toughest possible opponent, alongside Sinner, and I’ll need to give my best to win.

Daniil Medvedev said at the press conference

The seven-time Grand Slam champion knocked out Cameron Norrie to improve his head-to-head record to 6-3. Alcaraz is on a 16-match winning streak, having won the Australian Open by defeating Djokovic and the Qatar Open against Arthur Fils. The Spaniard holds a 6-2 head-to-head lead over the 2021 US Open champion, who is also chasing his third title of the season after Brisbane and Dubai wins.

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