Jack Draper beats Holger Rune at Indian Wells for a first Masters 1000 title and a top-10 debut

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Jack Draper overwhelmed Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in a little more than an hour in the final of the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, achieving two big milestones by claiming his first Masters 1000 title and earning his debut in the top 10 of the ATP rankings.

Draper, a 23-year-old from Britain who was seeded 13th at the hard-court tournament in the California desert, built up a 21-7 advantage in winners against Rune while also making fewer unforced errors.

Draper's left-handed serve was particularly important: He hit 10 aces, won 21 of his 23 first-serve points and never allowed Rune to earn a single break point.

“You never know when it's your time,” said Draper, a U.S. Open semifinalist in September. “I lost first round here last year, so I didn't get to experience the tournament too much. ... But I'd say this is one of my favorite tournaments now, of course.”

He will rise from No. 14 to a career-high No. 7 in the rankings on Monday.

“I feel,” Draper said, “like I deserve it.”

Earlier Sunday, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva of Russia collected her second consecutive Masters 1000 title by getting past No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Rune is a 21-year-old from Denmark who was seeded 12th at Indian Wells.

Their matchup was the first ATP Masters 1000 final anywhere between two men born in the 2000s and the first at Indian Wells between two aged 23 or younger since Rafael Nadal, 22, beat Andy Murray, 21, in 2009.

“Tough day for me, but I have to start with congratulating Jack,” Rune said. “You've been showing some incredible tennis and, for sure, you deserved to win today.”

Draper got to the final by eliminating two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals on Friday.

“I wasn’t expecting this. I put in a lot of work over time," Draper said. "I’m just so grateful and so happy to ... be able to play, my body feeling healthy and to feel great in the mind.”

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Jack Draper, of Great Britain, serves to Holger Rune, of Denmark, during the final match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Holger Rune, of Denmark, returns to Jack Draper, of Great Britain, during the final match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Jack Draper, of Great Britain, returns to Holger Rune, of Denmark, during the final match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Jack Draper, of. Britain, returns to Holger Rune, of Denmark, during the final match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Jack Draper, of Britain, holds the winner's trophy at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers held four starters out at Minnesota on Monday night, including stars Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, and the final member of their usual starting five was ejected in the third quarter when Andrew Nembhard got his second technical foul of the game.

Forward Aaron Nesmith was scratched for management of his left ankle injury that kept him out for 35 games earlier this season. Center Myles Turner was out with a bruised left hip.

Nembhard was punished for chucking the ball at Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, who lowered a shoulder to check Nembhard's drive after he clipped Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley with an elbow to the chest.

Nembhard's first technical foul came midway through the first quarter. Gobert was also automatically ejected after an official replay review resulted in a Flagrant 2 foul call on him.

Siakam's first absence as a member of the Pacers, who acquired him 14 months ago in a trade with Toronto, was due to personal reasons. The three-time All-Star forward leads the team with an average of 20.9 points per game.

Haliburton sat with lower back soreness. An All-Star in each of the previous two seasons, Haliburton missed three games earlier this month because of a left hip flexor strain. The Pacers lost all three of those without their point guard.

Rookie reserve Johnny Furphy was also unavailable because of an illness, leaving the Pacers particularly short-handed against the surging Timberwolves. Nembhard moved to point guard and was joined in the original starting lineup by Bennedict Mathurin in the backcourt, Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker at the forward spots and Thomas Bryant at center.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, front, and Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard battle for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 17, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Indiana Pacers' Myles Turner, right, reacts past Philadelphia 76ers' Adem Bona after scoring during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Indiana Pacers' Pascal Siakam, left, goes up for a shot past Philadelphia 76ers' Ricky Council IV during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (0) passes the ball against Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)