Indian Wells: Alcaraz, Sabalenka sails into QFs, Draper knocks out former champ Fritz
Carlos Alcaraz breezed past Grigor Dimitrov, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka ended the run of lucky loser Sonay Kartal at the Indian Wells Open
- INDIAN WELLS — Carlos Alcaraz breezed past Grigor Dimitrov 6-1 6-1 and extended
his Indian Wells winning streak to 15 matches. He also moved within three
victories of an Indian wells three-peat.
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- The Spaniard, who lost just six games in each of his opening
two matches, showcased impressive display of the tournament in windy evening
conditions under the lights on Stadium 1. Alcaraz's athleticism did not allow
Dimitrov to hit through him in an entertaining evening.
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- After ATP Masters 1000 wins in Shanghai (2023) and Miami
(2024), Dimitrov was bidding to become just the fourth man to record four or
more victories against Alcaraz (Zverev, Djokovic, Sinner) and to join Felix
Auger-Aliassime as the only player to defeat Alcaraz three times in a row, ATP
reports.
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- Alcaraz remains on course for an Indian Wells three-peat. If
he can match Roger Federer (2004-06) and Novak Djokovic (2014-16) by achieving
that feat, the Spaniard would tie Jannik Sinner in first place in the ATP Live
Race To Turin. In the PIF ATP Rankings, Alcaraz cannot improve upon his No. 3
position this week, behind Sinner and Alexander Zverev, even with the title.
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- Earlier, Jack Draper clinched the biggest win of his season,
where he eliminated former champion and World No. 4 Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-4 to
advance to the quarter-finals in Indian Wells for the first time.
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- With his 79-minute win, Draper advanced to his third ATP
Masters 1000 quarter-final. The World No. 14, who would crack the Top 10 for
the first time if he reaches his second tour-level final of the season (Doha),
lost in the last eight in Montreal in 2022 and in Cincinnati in 2024.
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- Draper will aim to go at least one step further in
California, where he next meets Ben Shelton, youngest American Indian Wells
quarter-finalist in 21 years since since Andy Roddick, 21, in 2004.
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- The 22-year-old overcame countryman Brandon Nakashima
7-6(6), 6-1 to continue his impressive record against the American and advance
to his third ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal.
