Draper fights to 'mind-blowing' win over Djokovic

Britain's Jack Draper produced a superb fightback to beat Novak Djokovic and reach the Indian Wells fourth round - a result he believes could be "a real big moment" in his season.Defending champion Draper regrouped impressively to beat 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) in a "real physical battle" of two hours and 35 minutes.Djokovic, a five-time winner at Indian Wells, had beaten Draper in the only previous meeting between them at Wimbledon in 2021.The victory is an important one for Draper as he rebuilds after a torrid eight-month spell plagued with an arm injury."To beat Novak is something that is mind-blowing," Draper, who is playing only his second ATP Tour event of the season, told BBC Sport."I've watched him since I was a kid, idolising him. Unbelievable respect for the player that he is. "I still want to play better, and feel better on the court, but I think for how long I have had off the court to come here and play three tough matches already and play that one, it's huge for me. "It's something I will probably look back on in a few months and think this is a real big moment for me." World number 14 Draper is joined in the quarter-finals by fellow Briton Cameron Norrie, who will play world number one Carlos Alcaraz next.Djokovic, runner-up to Alcaraz at January's Australian Open, won 87% of points on his serve as he clinched the opening set.However, Draper levelled to force a decider as the quality rose, with Djokovic winning a gruelling 26-shot rally in the opening game at 30-30 on the Serb's serve.The Briton broke his rival's next service game but, serving for the match at 5-4 up, was broken back as the match went to a tie-break.Once again, Draper regrouped impressively to advance and set up a quarter-final against former world number one Daniil Medvedev. "It was a real physical battle, there were definitely a lot of ups and downs in the match," Draper, 24, said."To come through that match is something I will never forget."Djokovic, playing his first tournament reaching the final of the Australian Open in January, believes he paid the price for the 26-shot rally. "It cost me a break after," he said. "It was great winning that point in that game, but I just ran completely out of the gas."I got the crowd backing me and I felt the energy. It was, like, 'maybe I'm going take this one'. "It was so close, so close. I mean, just unfortunate few mistakes from my side.""He is playing at a great level. Just, overall, a great player, great guy."