Carlos Alcaraz continues to scare Jannik Sinner

©Getty Images

Victory for Carlos Alcaraz

For the first time at the BNP Paribas Open 2025, the Indian Wells Masters 1000, Carlos Alcaraz è found himself trailing by a break. But he recovered from down 1-4 in the second set, defeated Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 6-3 7-6(4) and è qualified for the semifinals. "In tennis it matters to win, no matter how you do it. You don’t think about playing great tennis every match, every day. In these kinds of matches you have to do the best with the level you have that day" he said after the match.

The 21-year-old Alcaraz è is two successes away from becoming the youngest player to win three consecutive titles on the ATP circuit (since 1990) and only the third to do so in Indian Wells after Roger Federer (2004-06) and Novak Djokovic (2014-16). 

Thanks to the win over Cerundolo, he è moved within 165 points of Alexander Zverev, who is second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, the ranking based on seasonal results that offers an always-up-to-date picture of the race for the Nitto ATP Finals. In the classic ATP ranking, which is based on the best results in the last 52 weeks, he canò only approach but not overtake Zverev, even by winning the title.

Alcaraz will play in Indian Wells his ninth semifinal in a Masters 1000 (6-2) against Jack Draper, who came so far ahead in this category of tournaments for the first time. 

In the quarterfinal between young stars on the circuit, the 23-year-old Briton defeated 22-year-old U.S. player Ben Shelton 64 75. "I didn’t know what to expect today, honestly&quot, said Draper after the match. "I practiced briefly with Ben maybe once or twice. Obviously I saw him a lot, è an incredible showman, he canè hit a winning shot from anywhere on the court. His serve è obviously incredible. I knew that facing him here in the U.S. would be really difficult today and it è was. I have tremendous respect for him. He will continue to win, he will have an extraordinary career".

The fourth left-hander to reach the Indian Wells semifinals this century (Nadal, Norrie, Labadze), Draper è in his 10th ATP semifinal, the second most prestigious ever so far after losing to Jannik Sinner at the 2024 US Open. Virtually world No. 11 according to real-time ATP rankings projections, Draper could make his Top 10 debut by reaching the final.

You may also like...