As the desert sun set over Indian Wells on March 16, 2025, a new chapter in British tennis history was written, and Emma Raducanu couldn’t contain her joy. Her childhood friend Jack Draper, a towering 23-year-old from London, had just clinched the biggest title of his career, storming to victory in the BNP Paribas Open final with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 win over Denmark’s Holger Rune. For Raducanu, the 22-year-old US Open champion of 2021, watching Draper hoist the trophy wasn’t just a moment of national pride—it was personal. “I’m so happy for him,” she beamed, her words dripping with the kind of warmth only decades of friendship can forge. “He’s someone I’ve known since we were so small, we were literally kids.”
Theirs is a bond that stretches back to the muddy courts and junior tournaments of their youth, two wide-eyed dreamers from the UK who grew up swinging rackets side by side. Now, as Draper’s star ascends to dazzling heights—cracking the ATP top 10 at No. 7 with this Masters 1000 triumph—Raducanu is among his loudest cheerleaders. “We grew up together,” she said, reflecting on the countless hours they spent honing their craft. “I know how much work he has put in, how much he deserves it. I’m just really happy and rooting for him.” It’s a sentiment that echoes beyond the tennis bubble, with even the Princess of Wales chiming in to hail Draper’s “fantastic” achievement, a nod to the seismic ripple his win sent through Britain.
Draper’s path to Indian Wells glory was nothing short of electrifying. Just 24 hours before the final, he’d toppled defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a semi-final upset that shook the tennis world, ending the Spaniard’s bid for a third straight title. The Rune demolition that followed was a masterclass—crisp, powerful, and unrelenting—marking him as the fifth British man to claim a Masters 1000 title, joining legends like Andy Murray and Tim Henman. For Raducanu, who’s faced her own battles since her fairy-tale Flushing Meadows run, Draper’s success is a testament to perseverance. She knows the grind all too well—the injuries, the scrutiny, the weight of expectation—and sees in him a kindred spirit who’s turned potential into tangible triumph.
This victory caps a breakout year for Draper, who’s been stacking accolades like a man on a mission. From his first ATP title in Stuttgart last June to a Vienna Open win in October, and a US Open semi-final run that made him the first Brit since Murray in 2012 to go that deep in New York, he’s been rewriting the script for British men’s tennis. Indian Wells, though, is the crown jewel—a career-high moment that’s catapulted him into the elite echelon of the sport. At 6-foot-4, with a lefty serve that’s a nightmare for opponents, Draper’s game is as imposing as his frame, and his mental toughness has finally caught up. “He’s always had the talent,” Raducanu might well have thought, having witnessed his evolution from the sidelines.
For Raducanu, the timing of Draper’s triumph couldn’t be more poignant. She’s in Miami now, gearing up for her own shot at redemption at the Miami Open, where she’ll face Japan’s Sayaka Ishii in the first round on March 21. Her 2025 season has been a mixed bag—early exits at Indian Wells and a ranking hovering around No. 60—but her win over Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals last November proved she can still dance with the best. Draper’s success, she hopes, might just spark a British resurgence. “I’m rooting for him,” she reiterated, a subtle hint that she’s drawing inspiration from his ascent as she plots her own climb back to the top.
Their shared history adds a layer of sweetness to this moment. Born just 12 months apart, Raducanu and Draper have been fixtures in each other’s lives, from junior circuits to the pro tour. He’s spoken before about how her 2021 US Open win—a qualifier’s miracle—lit a fire under him. “What Emma did was obviously incredibly inspiring,” he once said, recalling how her improbable victory fueled his own ambitions. Now, with Draper basking in the glow of Indian Wells, it’s Raducanu’s turn to feel the lift. Their friendship, forged in the crucible of competition, is a rare thread in a sport often defined by solitude, and it’s clear she sees his win as a win for them both.
As Britain celebrates one of its brightest tennis talents, Raducanu’s pride shines through. Draper’s Indian Wells triumph isn’t just a trophy—it’s a promise of what’s possible, a beacon for a nation that’s long hungered for its next big stars. For Raducanu, it’s a reminder of their shared roots and a spark to reignite her own journey. Together, they’re carrying the torch for British tennis, one victory at a time, and the world is watching.
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