Draper-Nadal: Is the Brit's Forehand Close to That of the Mallorcan?

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Arthur Millot

le 18/03/2025 à 07h00

1 min to read

Draper Indian Wells Nadal

Jack Draper made waves by winning the Indian Wells Masters 1000, defeating Holger Rune in the final (6-2, 6-2).

Throughout the tournament, the Brit displayed an impressive dominance over his opponents, reminiscent of a certain Rafael Nadal.

Known for his legendary topspin, the Spanish left-hander developed a forehand during his career capable of causing trouble for all his opponents. Nadal produced a spin that allowed him to maintain a safety margin while retaining immense power.

The Mallorcan's ball exploded on the bounce, forcing opposing players to defend far behind the baseline.

Draper, also a left-hander, possesses a devastating forehand, which seems to have improved over the years.

The media outlet Eurosport revealed data from TennisViz, the official ATP statistics provider. The numbers show a massive improvement in Jack Draper's forehand during the 2025 Indian Wells tournament compared to previous months:

- Average forehand speed of Draper at Indian Wells: 123.9 km/h (compared to 119 over the last 52 weeks and 122.3 for the tour average).
- Average forehand spin at Indian Wells: 3384 rpm (compared to 3125 and 2844).
- Percentage of forehands landing within one meter of the sidelines: 30% (compared to 27% and 28%).
- Forehand "shot quality" at Indian Wells (an index calculated by synthesizing these various metrics): 8.6 (compared to 7.7 and 7.5).

"Draper had revealed that, like Nadal, his handedness isn't very clear. 'I'm a bit weird. I play tennis left-handed, but everything else, I do right-handed. I don't really know where that comes from,'" Eurosport noted.