Kecmanovic Stuns Berrettini To Reach QFs

Miomir Kecmanovic earned just his second Top 10 win Wednesday at the BNP Paribas Open, upsetting World No. 6 Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals in Indian Wells.

The Serbian is enjoying a dream run in the California desert and backed up his third-round win over Botic van de Zandschulp with a consistent and aggressive display against Berrettini on Stadium 2 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Kecmanovic stood close to the baseline on return to shut down the angles on Berrettini’s serve, targeting the Italian’s backhand successfully throughout. He forced the sixth seed into errors with his depth and precision and held his nerve in a tense third set to advance after two hours and 29 minutes in their first ATP Head2Head meeting.

FOLLOW THIS WEEK’S ACTION

📺 TV Schedule
🎾 Watch Live On Tennis TV
📱 Follow Live Scores On ATP Tour App
📧 Sign Up For Newsletters

With his standout victory, the World No. 61 has booked his place in the last eight at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the second time, after also advancing to the same stage in Indian Wells on his tournament debut in 2019.

Kecmanovic’s only previous Top 10 victory came against then-World No. 6 Alexander Zverev in Cincinnati in 2019. The 22-year-old will meet Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals after the American defeated Alex de Minaur 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).

It is the third time Kecmanovic has reached the quarter-finals at a tour-level event this season, having advanced to the last eight on clay in Rio de Janeiro and Santiago.

In a rock-solid first-set performance, Kecmanovic looked to step inside the baseline and dictate as he quickly found his rhythm on his groundstrokes to pin the Italian back. The Serbian gained an early break in the fourth game and looked comfortable on serve, not facing a break point in the set as he moved ahead.

The second set was a close affair, with Berrettini utilising his powerful serve to great effect as he looked to regain a foothold in the match. According to Infosys ATP Stats, Berrettini hammered nine aces in the set and crucially relied on the weapon at 5-5, saving a break point with a thunderous first serve. With the pair moving to a tie-break, it was Berrettini who held his nerve from 5/5 to level.

Both players looked tense in the third set, with Berrettini showing his experience as he saved two break points on serve at 3-4. Kecmanovic refused to go away though and found the crucial break in the 10th game of the set, letting out a roar after sealing his win.

Berrettini is a five-time tour-level titlist but was bidding to win his maiden Masters 1000 crown in Indian Wells. The 25-year-old defeated #NextGenATP Dane Holger Rune and South African Lloyd Harris en route to his fourth-round clash against Kecmanovic.