Alcaraz, Medvedev, Draper, and Rune Advance to Indian Wells Semifinals

Posted : 14 March 2025

Carlos Alcaraz continued his title defense at the Indian Wells ATP Masters with a hard-fought victory over Francisco Cerundolo, winning 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to advance to the semifinals. The two-time defending champion faced early pressure, saving multiple break points in his opening service games before seizing control with a break of his own. He secured the first set with a forehand winner after a well-executed drop volley.

In the second set, Cerundolo briefly held the upper hand, breaking Alcaraz to take a 4-1 lead, but the world No. 3 mounted a strong comeback, forcing a tiebreak and sealing the match with a dominant finish.

Reflecting on his performance, Alcaraz acknowledged the difficult conditions and his opponent’s strong play. He admitted to struggling with his timing in the wind but was pleased with his ability to capitalize on the few chances he had. With the victory, he remains on course to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only players to win three consecutive Indian Wells titles.

Up next for Alcaraz is Jack Draper, who reached his first Masters 1000 semifinal with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Ben Shelton. Draper rallied from 0-3 down in the second set and took advantage of Shelton’s 32 unforced errors, including five double faults.

Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev battled past Arthur Fils in a dramatic three-set encounter, winning 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (9/7) to set up a semifinal clash with Holger Rune. Medvedev, the tournament’s runner-up in the past two years, overcame windy conditions and a 2-4 deficit in the final set, eventually prevailing after Fils sent a backhand volley long on match point.

The Russian, who had lost eight of his last nine third-set tiebreakers, expressed relief at closing out the match, especially after struggling with tight contests earlier in the season. He now looks to claim his first title since winning five tournaments in 2023.

Rune, his semifinal opponent, secured his place in the final four with a 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 victory over Tallon Griekspoor. The young Dane, who burst onto the scene with his 2022 Paris Masters triumph over Novak Djokovic, has faced inconsistency since but showed resilience in his comeback win.

Griekspoor, ranked 43rd in the world, had earlier stunned top seed Alexander Zverev in the second round but was unable to maintain his momentum against Rune. With Alcaraz, Draper, Medvedev, and Rune all advancing, the Indian Wells semifinals promise an exciting mix of established stars and rising talents.

Alcaraz, Medvedev, Draper, and Rune Advance to Indian Wells Semifinals

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