Thursday Preview: Hurkacz Faces Dimitrov In Indian Wells, Continues Turin Push
Hubert Hurkacz, Diego Schwartzman, Cameron Norrie and Grigor Dimitrov all feature on Thursday as the BNP Paribas Open hits the business end of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
Ninth seed Hurkacz continues his push for a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals in November when he faces No. 23 seed Grigor Dimitrov for the first time second on Stadium 1. After a series of strong performances in 2021, including his first Masters 1000 crown at the Miami Open presented by Itau, Hurkacz aims to rise to eighth position in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin with victory over Dimitrov. The Bulgarian, winner of the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals crown, recorded his second Top 3 win of the year on Wednesday when he beat in-form US Open champion Daniil Medvedev.
Hurkacz added to his Miami title in October by lifting his fourth ATP Tour title at the Moselle Open (d. Carreno Busta). The Pole also advanced to his first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon (l. to Djokovic), while Dimitrov came into Indian Wells on the back of a semi-final finish at the San Diego Open (l. to Ruud).
Medvedev On Dimitrov: ‘I Don’t See Him Losing To Anybody’
Bottini On Dimitrov’s Win Against Medvedev: ‘He Kept Believing’
Hurkacz Boosts Turin Hopes In Indian Wells
Formula 1 & Minis: Hurkacz’s Love Of Cars
Watch Wednesday Highlights From Indian Wells
Only three places — and 315 points — separate Cameron Norrie (13th) and Diego Schwartzman (15th) in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin and they meet for the fourth time on Thursday morning. Through to his first Masters 1000 quarter-final, Norrie will play with a great deal of confidence as he goes for his 45th match win of the season. The Briton, who has reached ATP Tour finals on every surface this year, has won his past two ATP Head2Head hard-court meetings against No. 11 seed Schwartzman.
There are also two doubles quarter-finals, with Italians Fabio Fognini and Lorenzo Sonego challenging eighth seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo in the final match on Stadium 1. Russian stars Aslan Karatsev and Andrey Rublev meet good friends Rohan Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov not before 6pm on Stadium 2.
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SCHEDULE – THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021
STADIUM 1 start 11:00 am
ATP – [21] C. Norrie (GBR) vs [11] D. Schwartzman (ARG)
ATP – [23] G. Dimitrov (BUL) vs [8] H. Hurkacz (POL)
Not Before 3:00 PM
WTA – [18] A. Kontaveit (EST) vs [12] O. Jabeur (TUN)
Not Before 6:00 PM
WTA – [21] P. Badosa (ESP) vs [10] A. Kerber (GER)
ATP – F. Fognini (ITA) / L. Sonego (ITA) vs [8] I. Dodig (CRO) / M. Melo (BRA)
STADIUM 2 start 1:00 pm
WTA – [3] S. Aoyama (JPN) / E. Shibahara (JPN) vs [2] S. Hsieh (TPE) / E. Mertens (BEL)
Not Before 2:30 pm
WTA – L. Kichenok (UKR) / J. Ostapenko (LAT) vs V. Kudermetova (RUS) / E. Rybakina (KAZ)
Not Before 6:00 pm
ATP – R. Bopanna (IND) / D. Shapovalov (CAN) vs A. Karatsev (RUS) / A. Rublev (RUS)