INDIAN WELLS (USA) (ITALPRESS) – Not even the wind stops Carlos Alcaraz, who continues on an upward trajectory at the “BNP Paribas Open,” the first Masters 1000 of the season, staged on the California cement of Indian Wells with total prize money of $8,963,700. The Spaniard, the second seed, after conceding just 12 games in his first two matches, advanced to the quarters by smashing Grigor Dimitrov, No. 14 on the scoreboard, 6-1 twice.
Next obstacle the Argentine Cerundolo. Instead, Taylor Fritz, champion at Indian Wells in 2022 and third seeded favorite, exits the scene: the U.S. succumbs 7-5 6-4 to Jack Draper, never so far ahead in the tournament and good at stringing together seven consecutive games from 4-5 in the first set. The 23-year-old from Sutton, seeded No. 13, will contend for a spot in the semifinals with Ben Shelton.
Instead, the doubles journey of Matteo Berrettini and Lorenzo Sonego stopped in the quarterfinals. The Azzurri were defeated 7-6(6) 6-4 by world No. 1 in the specialty, Salvadoran Marcelo Arevalo and Croatian Mate Pavic, after missing two set points in the tie-break.
In the Wta 1000, Jasmine Paolini postpones her date with the first quarterfinal of the season. The Tuscan, number 6 in the world and on the scoreboard, lost 6-0 6-4 to Liudmila Samsonova, the 24th seed, in the ongoing round of 16 on the concrete courts of Indian Wells.
The Russian, in the field as a neutral athlete who built her tennis career in Italy, had won both previous direct confrontations, in qualifying in St. Petersburg in 2019 and in the first round of the Australian Open 2023. In the quarters she will face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who came so far ahead for the first time in a Wta 1000 in 2025 thanks to a 6-1 6-2 win over lucky loser Sonay Kartal.
Also in the quarters is Madison Keys, who extends her unbeaten streak to 15 matches: the U.S., the fifth seeded favorite, beat Donna Vekic (No. 19) in a comeback 4-6 7-6(7) 6-3 and will now face Belinda Bencic, who surprisingly eliminated Coco Gauff, the third force on the scoreboard, 3-6 6-3 6-4 after two hours and twenty minutes of play.
– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
