INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Jack Draper toppled two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the BNP Paribas Open final.
The 13th-seeded Draper will face 12th-seeded Holger Rune on Sunday. Rune beat fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev 7-6, 6-4 in the first semifinal for his 150th tour-level victory.
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Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns to Jack Draper, of Great Britain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, reacts after defeating Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, in their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, in their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, celebrates after defeating Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, in their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, celebrates after defeating Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, in their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, left, shakes hands with Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, after defeating him in their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns to Jack Draper, of Great Britain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, returns to Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, returns to Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns to Jack Draper, of Great Britain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, right, discusses a call with Jack Draper, of Great Britain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, reacts to winning a point against Jack Draper, of Great Britain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, reacts to a call as he plays against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, returns to Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, returns to Holger Rune, of Denmark, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, celebrates a point against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, serves to Holger Rune, of Denmark, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, returns to Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, runs forward to return against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, returns to Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, celebrates a point against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, celebrates a point against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
In the women’s final Sunday, top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka will play 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva. They won semifinal matches Friday night in chilly conditions.
Draper ended Alcaraz’s 16-match winning streak in the ATP Masters 1000 event in the California desert. The 23-year-old English left-hander — set to break into the top 10 in the world for the first time Monday — won last year in Vienna and Stuttgart for his lone tour titles. He's 2-3 against Alcaraz.
“It was a strange match in all honesty,” Draper said “Carlos came out a little flat, I sensed that. I had a chance in the first game of the second, and he came up with an ace. … What happened to him happened to me, I got tight, I had low energy.
"Against the top players in the world, they can change their momentum very quickly. I got lost out there for 25 minutes, but in the third, I was really proud of my competitiveness, my attitude and I somehow managed to get over the line.”
Alcaraz, seeded second, missed a chance to become the youngest player to win three consecutive singles titles at any ATP Tour event — and just the third to do it at Indian Wells. The 21-year-old Spanish star won in Rotterdam in February for his 17th ATP Tour title.
The 21-year-old Rune, from Denmark, snapped a seven-match losing streak in semifinals. He’s 2-2 against Medvedev.
“It means everything,” Rune said. “The job is not over yet, but it feels amazing. Playing Daniil is one of the toughest challenges for me on tour. I managed to beat him the first time (we played), but we know each other well. I obviously had the right tactics, but it was still so difficult because he puts in great effort and is super solid. So, I’m very proud of myself.”
Rune has four ATP Tour titles. His biggest victory came in Paris in 2022 in another ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
Medvedev won the last of his 20 ATP Tour titles in 2023. The 29-year-old Russian lost to Alcaraz last year in the Indian Wells final.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns to Jack Draper, of Great Britain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, reacts after defeating Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, in their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, in their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, celebrates after defeating Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, in their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, celebrates after defeating Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, in their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, left, shakes hands with Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, after defeating him in their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns to Jack Draper, of Great Britain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, returns to Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, returns to Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns to Jack Draper, of Great Britain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, right, discusses a call with Jack Draper, of Great Britain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, reacts to winning a point against Jack Draper, of Great Britain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, reacts to a call as he plays against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, returns to Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, returns to Holger Rune, of Denmark, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, celebrates a point against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, serves to Holger Rune, of Denmark, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, returns to Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, runs forward to return against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, returns to Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, celebrates a point against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Holger Rune, of Denmark, celebrates a point against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during their semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
HAFJELL, Norway (AP) — World champion Loic Meillard won the season's penultimate men's World Cup slalom Sunday as the Swiss skier boosted his chances of taking the discipline title.
Meillard overcame a big mistake early in his final run and held on to his first-leg lead as he beat Atle Lie McGrath of Norway by 0.21 seconds. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen was 0.47 back in third.
“It was a wild second run with a few mistakes. I just wanted to fully attack, maybe even too much,” said Meillard, who also won Saturday’s giant slalom on the same hill.
Meillard's sole previous career World Cup victory in slalom came in Aspen, Colorado a year ago, though he took gold at the worlds in Austria in February.
Henrik Kristoffersen, who leads the slalom standings, placed fifth but the Norwegian saw his advantage over Meillard reduced to 47 points with only the season-ending race remaining at the World Cup finals in Sun Valley, Idaho on March 27.
The only other racer left with a chance to win the season title is Clement Noel. The Olympic champion from France finished seventh and trails Kristoffersen by 86 points. A race win is worth 100 points.
Kristoffersen has won the slalom title three times in his career, most recently in 2022, but it would be the first career slalom globe for either Meillard or Noel.
Last year’s slalom champion, Manuel Feller, skied out in the first run, but the Austrian was already out of contention for the season title before the race.
Swiss star Marco Odermatt, who locked up the overall and giant slalom titles on Saturday, does not compete in slaloms.
Hafjell hosted World Cup races for the first time since 2003.
The race wrapped up the regular World Cup season ahead of the finals for both men and women in Sun Valley, which open with the speed events next weekend.
AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing
Switzerland's Loic Meillard competes on his way to win an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Hafjell, Norway, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard, center, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, celebrates with second-placed Norway's Atle Lie McGrath, left, and third-placed Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, in Hafjell, Norway, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, right, and Norway's Atle Lie McGrath look at Switzerland's Loic Meillard descending during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Hafjell, Norway, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard, right, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, and third-placed Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen congratulate each other at the finish area, in Hafjell, Norway, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Hafjell, Norway, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Austria's Manuel Feller competes in an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Hafjell, Norway, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
France's Clement Noel competes in an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Hafjell, Norway, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen competes in an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Hafjell, Norway, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen competes in an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Hafjell, Norway, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard competes in an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Hafjell, Norway, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)