Draper beats Rune to win Indian Wells title
Written by I Dig Sports
Just as he did during the semi-final win over two-time defending champion Alcaraz, Draper made a fast start which sapped his opponent's confidence.
The Briton showcased the accurate serving which had been the bedrock of his run to the final, as well as regularly putting a tense Rune's first serve back into play - and hit ripping winners from the baseline.
Two breaks of Rune's serve were backed up with rapid holds to keep piling on pressure, with a 4-0 lead quickly turning into a 5-1 advantage.
Draper did not lose a first-serve point until the game where he closed out the opening set.
The manner of his dominance led to a ruffled Rune going off court for a mental reset - despite having only been playing for 29 minutes.
Draper pounced for another break at the start of the second set, maintaining his lead by continuing to bully Rune with deep forehand returns.
Even regular dialogue with his team could not help get the increasingly animated Rune back on track.
A poor service game handed Draper the cushion of a double break at 5-2 and the chance to serve out for the title.
Draper had wobbled when trying to see out victories against third seed Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals and four-time major champion Alcaraz in the last four.
But there was no sign of anxiety when serving out for the championship - another indicator of Draper now truly believing he belongs among the very best.
"I think the new experiences, and new emotions, got the better of me against Carlos," he said.
"Turning around that third set massively helped my confidence."