They were the talk of Tennis Paradise last year on championship Sunday: Mirra Andreeva and Jack Draper raising the prestigious Baccarat crystal trophy after breathtaking title wins. 

This year, they are both up and running in the California desert, as Draper and Andreeva stretched their Indian Wells winning streaks to seven with victories on Saturday. 

Draper battles back

So much has transpired since Draper left Tennis Paradise last March, the menacing Brit crowned a first-time Masters 1000 champion inside Stadium 1 and making his Top 10 debut a day later.

Draper would climb inside the Top 5 a few months later, but his season was derailed by a bone bruise in his left arm. He cut his season short after the US Open and is just now starting to feel 100 percent again.

The 24-year-old stretched his winning streak in the California desert to six victories with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over 37-year-old Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut — a comeback victory that sent a message that the three-time ATP titlist is ready to leave it all on the court in his title defense.

Coming from a set down against the indefatigable Spaniard in Stadium 2 was by no means a walk in the park.

“It was difficult,” Draper said on court after the win. “Even though from the moment I got here last week, I have felt the love and special feelings being back here, but at the same time I haven’t played in a long time and have had a difficult injury, so mixed emotions. But I am really glad with the way I came through in the second and third sets against a formidable opponent in Roberto.”

After surrendering a break in the opening set, Draper needed a reset as Bautista Agut took the opener. The second set was the Brit’s cue to bear down on serve, and he did just that. He didn’t face a break point in the middle set as he levelled the match.

With the pressure mounting in a decider, Draper saved five break points across his final two service games to preserve his break and close out the match in one hour and 45 minutes.

No. 14-seeded Draper will face Francisco Cerundolo, the No. 19 seed, in the third round.

No Mercy Mirra

If Draper took the scenic route to his victory, Andreeva took the bullet train.

The No. 8 seed surged past Argentina’s Solana Sierra, 6-0, 6-0 in 49 minutes, playing in the breezy conditions like a wind whisperer in Stadium 2.

It was the first double bagel that the teenager has ever recorded at tour-level.

Andreeva, who converted six of nine break points and saved all four she faced, says her experience playing in windy conditions enabled her to run away with things against the World No. 65 from Mar del Plata, Argentina.

“I was a little bit nervous before this match, coming back as the defending champion at this amazing place,” Andreeva said. “Honestly, I think that maybe I’m just a little more experienced playing with the wind here, because conditions are pretty tricky when it's windy, because I feel like the wind changes directions all the time, and you really have to adapt and adjust your game all the time.

“I just think that today, I managed to adjust my game quicker to these conditions.”

Adding flavor to the victory was the fact that the 18-year-old claimed her 100th career match win.

“I always see posts on Instagram and from people, ‘Oh, Novak got his 500th win on tour,’ and I wonder when I'm gonna get to at least 50?” she said. “And now you're telling me that I’m at my 100th win. It's amazing, super special to hear, and I hope I'm not gonna stop here.”