Preview: Novak Djokovic vs Jack Draper prediction, betting tips & odds, head-to-head: Indian Wells Open 2026
Djokovic sets up Draper face-off with win number 420 at an ATP 1000 event.
While not quite a virtuoso performance from Novak Djokovic, the five-time champion found a way past Aleksandar Kovacevic. The No. 3 seed outlasted Kovacevic, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4, for his 420th match win at the ATP 1000 level.
Following the two-hour win, Djokovic has booked his place in the fourth round at Indian Wells for the first time since 2017. His campaign this year got off to a rocky start, tested by World No. 57. Kamil Majchrzak. The former No. 1 had to rally from a set down to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in another two-hour affair.
After Djokovic claimed the opening set in 35 minutes, Kovacevic found his groove in the second. The American converted two break points and struck six aces to gift himself the second set and force a decider. The Serb soaked up the pressure and capitalised on Kovacevic’s error-prone game to cross the finish line.
Kovacevic gifted plenty of free points to the five-time champion with 21 unforced errors in the decider out of the 44 over the course of the three-setter.
Djokovic now faces defending champion Jack Draper for their first tour-level match since the 2021 Wimbledon. The Serbian legend defeated Draper in four sets in the opening round at SW19.
He will play his 113th Round of 16 match at an ATP Masters event on Wednesday.
Draper will continue his title defence against Djokovic after he eliminated Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, 6-1, 7-5 in the third round. The British No. 1 needed just 82 minutes to send home Cerundolo for his first victory over the Argentinian in three meetings.
Cameron Norrie is the other British face in the men’s draw. Norrie, the 2021 champion, defeated Alex de Minaur in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, to advance.
Backed by his strong serve, the British southpaw won 27/34(79%) of his first serve points and broke Cerundolo’s serve six times for his eighth straight win at Tennis Garden.
Match details
- Tournament: Indian Wells Open 2026
- Round: Fourth Round
- Date: March 11
- Venue: Indian Wells, United States
- Surface: Hard Court
Preview
Draper continues on his comeback from an injury-related layoff to win his 11th straight match in Indian Wells. This is his deepest run at a tour-level event since his second-round retirement at the 2025 US Open. Draper lost to Arthur Rinderknech at the ATP 500 Dubai Open last month, falling in the second round 5-7, 7-6(4), 4-6.
Djokovic became the second-oldest player to reach the fourth round of an ATP Masters 1000 event following his hard-fought win over Kovacevic. The Serb chases a record-breaking sixth title at Tennis Garden – he is currently tied with Roger Federer.
The long-awaited rematch between Djokovic and Draper will be the Serb’s 17th appearance in California and is 5-1 in finals at the venue. The winner will go on to face either Daniil Medvedev or Alex Michelsen in the last eight.
Form
- Novak Djokovic: W-W-L-W-W
- Jack Draper: W-W-L-W-W
Head-to-head record
- Matches: 1
- Novak Djokovic: 1
- Jack Draper: 0
Stats
Novak Djokovic
- Djokovic has a 7-1 win-loss record in the 2026 season
- Djokovic has a 53-11 win-loss record at Indian Wells
- Djokovic has won 84% of matches played on hard courts
Jack Draper
- Draper has a 4-1 win-loss record in the 2026 season
- Draper has an 11-2 win-loss record at Indian Wells
- Draper has won 65% of matches played on hard courts
Novak Djokovic vs Jack Draper: Betting tips and odds
- Moneyline: Djokovic: -137, Draper +130
- Spread: Djokovic -1.5 (-107), Draper +1.5 (-101)
- Total Games: Over 23 (-105), Under 23 (-109)
- First Set Winner: Djokovic -127, Draper +111
Match prediction
Draper conceded that he would have to raise his game level a few notches when he takes on Djokovic in the fourth-round. The British left-hander will take on Djokovic in one of the most intriguing matches of the tournament.
While Djokovic faced some turbulence in the early rounds, he should settle down as the tournament enters its second week. The Serb has a healthy record against left-handers and should have no trouble finding a way past Draper.
Another competitive match similar to their last meeting is likely in the works, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion edging out the British leftie in three sets.
Result: Novak Djokovic to win in three sets.
Where and how to watch live telecast and live streaming of Novak Djokovic vs Jack Draper fourth-round match at Indian Wells Open 2026?
The fourth-round match between Djokovic and Draper will be broadcast on FanCode for Indian viewers. Sky UK in the United Kingdom and Tennis Channel in the United States are the official broadcasters for their respective regions.
Where and when will Novak Djokovic vs Jack Draper fourth-round match take place at Indian Wells Open 2026?
The round of 16 clash between Djokovic and Draper will be played on the main court on March 11 (Wednesday). The match has a tentative start time of 6:00 pm local time and 6:30 am (Thursday morning) in Indian time.
What is the overall head-to-head record between Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper?
They have clashed only once on tour previously and Djokovic won that content in the opening round of Wimbledon 2021 in four sets.
What happened in the only previous meeting on tour between Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper?
While Djokovic won the match, Draper did take a set off the Serbian in 2021. Djokovic had to recover from a set down to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
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Meet Fazeel—a bibliophile and sci-fi aficionado who devours books and movies alike. His favorite form of exercise? Watching tennis from a perfectly positioned couch. Whether he's lost in a gripping novel or absorbed in a five-hour Grand Slam final, he's all in. Favorite quote: “You cannot be serious” – John McEnroe.