UK’s top tennis player, Jack Draper, has been making waves at the Indian Wells tournament, not only with his exceptional performance in singles but also with his entertaining antics in doubles. Having teamed up with Czech sensation Tomas Machac, Draper has shown his determination to squeeze in extra matches and refine his skills.
The duo, who have previously paired in doubles, started their campaign with an impressive win in the first round. However, they faced a formidable challenge in the second round against the tournament’s top seeds and ultimately succumbed to defeat. Despite the loss, Draper managed to inject some fun into the match, drawing attention with a light-hearted, revealing gesture imitating Machac.
Machac, like Draper, has gained prominence primarily for his singles performance. Ranked 20th in the world, Machac’s record boasts significant victories against renowned players like Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. His doubles prowess is also noteworthy, having clinched an Olympic gold medal last year in the mixed event with Katerina Siniakova.
The camaraderie between Draper and Machac was evident in Indian Wells. The two previously teamed up in Tokyo in September 2020, and Draper chose the 24-year-old Czech player as his doubles partner for this tournament. Their journey, however, was cut short in the second round, suffering a 6-1 7-5 loss to world’s top players, Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo.
Despite the defeat, the pair maintained a jovial atmosphere throughout the match. After a shaky start, Draper cheekily mimicked Machac’s distinctive style of wearing short shorts by rolling up his own during a break in the second set. This amusing act elicited laughter from Machac and cheers from the audience, with fans on Court 3 appreciating Draper’s playful tribute.
The humorous interlude appeared to relax both players, sparking a more competitive second set. Yet, the duo could not overturn the match and were defeated in straight sets.
While Draper’s doubles journey ended, he still has the singles to concentrate on and is set to face Taylor Fritz in the round of 16. Machac, on the other hand, has concluded his stint at Indian Wells after a forced retirement in his opening singles match against Yosuke Watanuki.
Earlier in the week, Draper shared his motivation to compete in both singles and doubles at Indian Wells. Speaking to Sky Sports, he expressed that he felt physically and mentally prepared. He acknowledged that even though he might not be at his best due to the varying conditions, he was optimistic about improving in subsequent matches.
