The two remaining semi-final spots at the BNP Paribas Open are up for grabs on Thursday in Indian Wells, where top seed Carlos Alcaraz continues his bid for the title and the No. 1 spot in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

The Spaniard must defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime for the first time in four attempts if he is to keep alive his chances of that double prize, while defending champion Taylor Fritz and Jannik Sinner go head-to-head in a clash between two of the hardest hitters on Tour.

ATPTour.com previews the quarter-final matchups from the bottom half of the BNP Paribas Open draw.

View Singles Draw | View Doubles Draw | View Schedule

[1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) Vs. [8] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)

Alcaraz is just three wins away from leapfrogging Novak Djokovic back to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, but to get there the 2022 semi-finalist must do something he has not yet managed in three previous attempts: defeat Auger-Aliassime.

The Canadian most recently downed Alcaraz in straight sets en route to the title in Basel last October, part of a late-season 16-match winning streak that earned him three consecutive ATP Tour titles. While Auger-Aliassime has not hit those heights in 2023 (he holds an 11-5 record for the season), his fourth-round victory against Tommy Paul could be the perfect catalyst for further success.

The eighth seed saved six match points before edging the American in one of the comeback victories of the year so far. Auger-Aliassime, who has also reached the semi-finals of the doubles alongside countryman Denis Shapovalov PLEASE CHECK THIS, will hope his huge serve and forehand can respond similarly under pressure against Alcaraz’s all-around quality on his maiden Indian Wells quarter-final appearance.

After injury delayed the start of his 2023 season to February, Alcaraz has wasted little time in re-establishing himself as one of the most accomplished all-court players on Tour. The 19-year-old has raced to an 11-1 record in the past month, lifting his seventh tour-level title in Buenos Aires and reaching the final in Rio de Janeiro, and clinched his 100th tour-level win with his third-round victory against Tallon Griekspoor in Indian Wells.

“As soon as I was playing matches, tournaments, I was recovering my confidence,” said Alcaraz on Tuesday after Jack Draper retired from the pair’s fourth-round match when trailing by a set and a break. “I was recovering my style, my level… Right now, I feel that I’m able to win tournaments, I’m there, [I’m] one of the favourites.”

Alcaraz has not dropped a set in moving past Thanasi Kokkinakis, Tallon Griekspoor and Draper so far this fortnight and is chasing back-to-back semi-finals in California, but Auger-Aliassime will be the first Top 10 rival that the Spaniard has faced this year. The Canadian’s first-serve percentage will be key to the match. Auger-Aliassime will want to limit the number of opportunities the Spanaird gets to take big cuts at second serves to take early control of points.

[4] Taylor Fritz (USA) Vs. [11] Jannik Sinner (ITA)

Fritz and Sinner meet at the same venue as their only previous tour-level meeting. In 2021, the American prevailed in straight sets in the BNP Paribas Open fourth round en route to the semi-finals in California.

The home favourite backed up that run by defeating Rafael Nadal to lift his maiden Masters 1000 crown in Indian Wells a year ago. In contrast, Sinner again came unstuck in the fourth round in 2022, and the Italian will hope that downing Stan Wawrinka on Tuesday for his first taste of success at that stage can lay the foundations for an even deeper run this year.

Stopping an opponent who has now won nine matches in a row at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden will be no easy feat, however. Fritz, who regularly visited the tournament in southern California as a child, relishes the atmosphere at his home event and he will look to put Sinner’s world-class movement to the ultimate test by continuing to hit through his groundstrokes in Thursday’s clash.

“I feel like it’s just that energy around this week, playing my home tournament. It is slower conditions, but it gives me a lot of time to be able to set up and usually just play attacking tennis,” Fritz said. “I really couldn’t tell you a specific reason why I do so well here, probably just the whole feeling around it.”

Either way, the duo’s respective gamestyles should make for a fascinating contest on Stadium 1. Whether Sinner can make a dent in Fritz’s powerful delivery with his sharp returning could be key, although the 21-year-old knows he needs to deliver a complete performance if he is to halt the home favourite’s charge.

“Every match is different,” said Sinner after he defeated Wawrinka to improve to 15-3 for the year. “The match before I struggled a little bit with the backhand. Today was completely different. I had a little bit of a higher ball so I could go really through the ball, so I’m very happy about that.

“I feel I can improve a couple of things. Today I was not serving so well… Tomorrow I have a day off so I have a couple of practice sessions and hopefully I’m going to be ready for after tomorrow.”

In Doubles Action…

Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski lifted three ATP Masters 1000 titles in their first year together on Tour in 2022, and the top seeds will hope to keep their bid for a fourth on track when they take on Jamie Murray and Michael Venus on Thursday in the Indian Wells.

In the other quarter-final in the top half of the draw, fifth seeds Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara face Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. Both teams are chasing their second trophy of 2023 this fortnight in California — Glasspool and Heliovaara won an ATP 250 in Adelaide in January, while Gonzalez and Roger-Vasselin clinched their first tour-level crown as a duo in Marseille last month.

There has been nothing to question about Daniil Medvedev’s game in recent weeks, but uncertainty around the health of his right ankle surrounded his BNP Paribas Open quarter-final clash with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Wednesday. After rolling his ankle in a thrilling fourth-round victory against Alexander Zverev on Tuesday, Medvedev said he was having trouble walking but that he hoped to play in the quarters.

In a 6-3, 7-5 victory against the 23rd seed — his 18th straight match win — Medvedev moved well in a fast start to alleviate any concerns. He added a new worry late in the second set when another fall required treatment on a bloody right thumb, but after escaping 0/40 at 3-4, the four-time ATP Masters 1000 champion did just enough in windy conditions to finish the job in straight sets.

“I’m actually happy the ankle didn’t hurt much because when I warmed up, it was hurting pretty bad,” Medvedev said post-match. “I knew I was going to play, I knew I was going to try. But I couldn’t move well on the warm-up. I tried to warm it up as long as possible, took one painkiller so that probably helped. I was actually feeling better and better during the match.

“The match was absolutely crazy. I could talk about this for 15 minutes, but just really happy to go through such a tough match with such tough conditions with the wind.”

It was business as usual in the first set once he opened up a 3-0 lead and nearly broke again for 4-0, with his patient and prodding baseline game frustrating Davidovich Fokina on the Indian Wells stadium court.

Set two was a much tighter affair as the Spaniard upped his aggression and earned his first break points, one in each of his first three return games. Medvedev found big serves each time to escape and threatened in a five-deuce game at 3-3, only for his fall to stop his momentum.

“I absolutely cut it open,” he said of his bloody thumb. “It was like fully open. I never cut myself with a knife even like this because I don’t cook much.”

That moment had the making of a turning point, as Davidovich Fokina rattled off six straight points and played some of his best first-strike tennis to bring up 0/40 on return. But after a second visit from the physio to have his thumb taped, Medvedev regrouped in the nick of time to see out the win with more baseline brilliance.

Medvedev is now 36-5 in sets during his winning run, which began with a comeback win against Davidovich Fokina in Rotterdam last month. He is seeking his fourth straight tour-level title after triumphs in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai.

The 27-year-old’s extended run has lifted him from outside the Top 10 last month up to No. 5 this week in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, though he cannot move any higher even with a title in Indian Wells. Medvedev, who was playing in his first Indian Wells quarter-final, has reached at least that stage at all six hard-court ATP Masters 1000s.

He can now enjoy two days off before he faces Frances Tiafoe in Saturday’s semi-finals. Medvedev owns a 4-0 ATP Head2Head record against the American, who has not lost a set in reaching the last four, including a 6-4, 6-4 quarter-final win against Cameron Norrie earlier on Wednesday.

“He’s playing great,” Medvedev said of the home favourite. “Frances is a very pumped-up, fiery player, so he can beat anyone on a good day. I’m sure he can beat Novak, Rafa. He actually did beat Rafa in the US Open, which is huge. For sure I need to try my best to keep this head-to-head at zero. That’s never easy and I just have to show my best tennis and try to beat such a great opponent.”

Davidovich Fokina was playing in his third Masters 1000 quarter-final and his first outside of Monte-Carlo, where he reached the 2021 quarters and the 2022 final. His run has lifted him three places to No. 25 this week in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, setting him up for a new career high on Monday.

Richard Gasquet views the ATP Tour just like a tennis ball with which he has won a point: He goes back to it for more.

The 36-year-old Frenchman has spent more than 20 years on tour and is showing no signs of slowing down. After reaching a career-high ranking No. 7 almost 16 years ago, Gasquet is still performing at a high level and residing in the Top 50 of Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

Boasting a famed one-handed backhand that he can easily change direction with in the blink of an eye, the World No. 43 is also a little superstitious on court.

“I have a superstition with the ball, I use the same ball when I’m winning points,” Gasquet told ATPTour.com. “With [changing my] grip [every changeover], it’s because I’m sweating so much, not superstition. It feels more fresh.”

Gasquet’s longevity hasn’t gone unnoticed by players. This past week, former World No. 1 Andy Murray had kind words for tour-veterans Gasquet and Swiss Stan Wawrinka, who are still giving their best despite no longer being a staple in the Top 10.

“I was really happy for [Gasquet] when he won the tournament in Auckland earlier this year,” Murray said in Indian Wells of the Frenchman’s first title in more than four years. “I think he maybe sometimes doesn’t get the respect he deserves. He’s been an incredible player for such a long time and I just love seeing guys that maybe are not at their peak, but they’re still out there giving everything, competing because they love the sport.”

A 16-time tour titlist, Gasquet is in action at this week’s Phoenix Challenger and is soaking in every chance he gets to be competing.

“Of course I was happy when Andy said that. I’ve known him for a long time, mutual respect,” Gasquet said. “I didn’t win three Grand Slams like [him and Wawrinka], so it’s not quite the same. But I’m very happy and very fortunate to still be on tour.”

The World No. 43 is among a star-studded field at this week’s Arizona Tennis Classic, where he opens against American qualifier Emilio Nava. Matteo Berrettini, Gael Monfils, and Alexander Bublik are also in action at the Phoenix Country Club.

It would be understandable if the day-to-day grind had grown tedious for Gasquet, but that is not the case for the oldest Frenchman in the Top 150.

“I’m enjoying it a lot,” Gasquet said. “I really like to play and be on the tennis court. I like to travel and play tournaments. Of course it’s not always easy, sometimes you’re a bit tired. It’s not easy to play matches after matches. I really like what I do, just to practise and play, win matches, being on the big stages.

“I didn’t think I could play such a long time, it’s a big surprise to me but I took it year-by-year and I’m still here. I’m practising a lot and thinking about tennis every day. I’m trying to be focussed every day to practise, to play matches, to fight. I really love what I’m doing.

“My best days are behind me, but I’m still enjoying it. I’m improving since last year, I’m playing better and feeling great physically. I hope it will be the same for the rest of the season and be lucky with no injuries. I had a great start to the year. We’ll see what happens.”

Gasquet started this year on the right foot. The Beziers native was crowned champion at the ATP 250 event in Auckland, where he defeated World No. 12 Cameron Norrie in the final to claim his first title since June 2018 (‘S-Hertogenbosch).

“I didn’t expect to win another tournament at 36, it was quite a surprise to me,” Gasquet said. “But I know I’m still able to beat guys in the Top 10. I did it last year and won this year against Top-20 players. Of course it’s not easy but I’m still fortunate to play tennis.”

A three-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, Gasquet never forgets that he’s living his childhood dream.

“I wanted to be a professional tennis player when I was a child,” Gasquet said. “When I was 13 or 14, I realised I could do it and I’m very fortunate for it. My dream came true. I’ve played Roland Garros, travelling my whole life to tournaments, meeting great people.”

Although some of Gasquet’s peers such as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon retired last season, the 36-year-old is unsure when he will hang up his racquets. For now, Gasquet’s focus is on staying healthy and enjoying every second he gets on tour.

“I’m still in a great shape. I don’t know exactly when I will stop but I will try my best to go as far as I can,” Gasquet said. “For the moment, I’m feeling great. I’m lucky that at 36 I can play. Some players stop before. Everybody wants to play for long. I remember that Jo [Wilfried Tsonga] wanted to play and had to stop because of injuries. Many players have that problem, not stopping because they want to but because of injuries.”

After spending more than two decades on tour, the question is, what will Gasquet do when he isn’t traveling weekly as a professional tennis player? “I don’t know for the moment,” Gasquet said. “For the first month, I think I will play golf and football.”

But retirement can wait for now. Gasquet is still winning titles on the ATP Tour and beating some of the game’s top players.

Frances Tiafoe soared into his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final at the BNP Paribas Open Wednesday when he overcame Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 to end the Briton’s eight-match winning run.

After a rain-disrupted start, the clouds cleared and Tiafoe started to fire. The American combined flair with power, timing the ball cleanly and moving forward effectively to earn the 13th – and biggest – win of his season after one hour and 25 minutes.

Yet to drop a set & through to 1/2 final!@FTiafoe using all of the court 📐, especially on his forehand cross-court winning play.

The 17 winning plays on the FH cross made a significant contribution to his #InAttack advantage over Norrie#WinningPlays:
✅ Highlight a… https://t.co/rPQEheFr1Z pic.twitter.com/2hJnjbRQPW

— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) March 15, 2023

Tiafoe, who is making his seventh appearance in Indian Wells, will face fifth seed Daniil Medvedev or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for a place in Sunday’s championship match.

“I am really happy. I feel like when I am there mentally, I am one of the best players in the world,” Tiafoe said. “Today it is not just about getting to the semis, I am happy to beat a guy like that, who has been playing so well. To be able to come out here and beat him in straight sets, is relatively comfortable. At the end, it got a little tricky, but it was pretty one-way traffic and I am really happy with where my game is at.”

Norrie lifted the title in Rio de Janeiro last month and entered the quarter-final clash off the back of a victory against sixth seed Andrey Rublev. However, he was unable to replicate that level against Tiafoe, frequently dropping the ball short to allow the 14th seed to dictate.

“I am able to take the racquet out of players hands,” Tiafoe said. “I am crafty, I can move. I stay in the points and don’t give away too many free points. I have grown as a player tremendously and it is showing. I am really happy with my progress.”

With his win, Tiafoe has levelled his ATP Head2Head series against Norrie at 1-1. Tiafoe has yet to drop a set this fortnight in California, having downed Marcos Giron, Jason Kubler and Alejandro Tabilo. The 25-year-old, currently No. 14 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, reached the semi-finals at the US Open last year and will aim to use the experience he gained in New York this week as he chases his second tour-level title.

Norrie was seeking his second crown in Indian Wells, having captured the biggest trophy of his career at the hard-court event in 2021. The 10th-seed is 21-4 on the season.

Thanasi Kokkinakis upset fifth seed Jiri Lehecka in straight sets Tuesday at the Arizona Tennis Classic. A few hours after the Aussie’s victory, he attended the Phoenix Suns vs. Milwaukee Bucks NBA game.

The 26-year-old has been a longtime fan of the NBA and most notably the Suns’ point guard Chris Paul.

“I pretty much follow Chris Paul wherever he goes. He’s my favourite player. Until he retires, I’ll stick with him,” Kokkinakis told ATPTour.com. “I saw him play when I was younger for Team USA and New Orleans and I just liked the way he played. He wasn’t someone that was a lot of people’s favourite player, I wanted to go a little different from the mainstream. He’s real smooth, real smart.

“We had the same agency a while back, so I’ve met him a few times. We keep in touch on social media sometimes. It’s pretty cool, he’s a nice guy. Him and Tracy McGrady were my favourites.”

Kokkinakis attended the game alongside his coach Todd Langman and countryman Alexei Popyrin, who also earned a first-round victory at the Phoenix Challenger on Tuesday. The Bucks, who are leading the NBA’s Eastern Conference, defeated the Suns 116-104. Milwaukee’s forward Giannis Antetokounmpo finished as the leading scorer with 36 points.

“Giannis actually followed me on Instagram in January, I think it was after the [Andy] Murray match [at the Australian Open],” Kokkinakis said. “One of my mates, Joe Ingles, is actually playing for Milwaukee as well. Pretty bummed that Kevin Durant is injured but still a lot of good players.”

From left to right: Alexei Popyrin, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Joe Ingles, Todd Langman. Credit: Bianca Giannone

A passionate and fiery player on the court, Kokkinakis likes to stay relaxed away from tennis and enjoy any downtime he gets.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to an NBA game, I went around the Miami Open last year,” Kokkinakis said. “The tennis tour is pretty full on, so whenever we get a bit of spare time and go out and do something, I try to make the most of it. For me, trying to do as many things off court will make my time on tour better.”

In episode one of the Netflix series Break Point, fans are given an inside look of Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios’ doubles title run at the 2022 Australian Open. When the Aussies aren’t playing tennis, you can find the close mates enjoying their fair share of NBA banter.

“He’s a big Celtics fan, they have a legit shot this year. They’ve got a very good team,” Kokkinakis said. “I’m a big Suns fan, so they could match up in the NBA Finals. We talk a lot of [trash], we’ve roomed together for ages so we watch a lot of basketball together.”

Kokkinakis will next be in action Thursday at the Phoenix Challenger against Pavel Kotov or Jan-Lennard Struff.

This story was translated from ATPTour.com/es

Carlos Alcaraz produced yet another demonstration of his precociousness this week at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. At 19, he has become the second fastest player to reach 100 wins among the 28 World No.1s in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

ATPTour.com looks back at some of the defining moments of a career that is progressing at breakneck speed.

Dominant on every surface
In a sport that requires mastering different court types, with a range of different ball speeds, spins and bounces, Alcaraz has shown from the beginning of his career that he has a natural talent for adaptation. The Spaniard has managed to find solutions wherever he has played, at the very least finding the path to victory more often than his opponents on each surface.

Alcaraz’s stats en route to 100 wins do not lie. His records on clay (47-12), grass (4-2) and hard court (49-18) reflect a competitor who is capable of prevailing in any situation. With his attacking brand of tennis, Alcaraz protects the baseline with imperial speed, patrolling the court with an insatiable hunger.

He has also demonstrated his relentless prowess on both indoor (16-6) and outdoor courts (84-26).

_{^{Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour}}
Resolute against the best
While this is a sport where constant periods of adaptation come with the territory, Alcaraz has been able to stand up to the best players from the outset. His youth has proven no barrier to earning himself a place amongst the best on Tour, experienced players with whom he shares the same goals.

Alcaraz has a positive record (12-9) against members of the Top 10 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, his closest rivals in the quest for the biggest
trophies on Tour.

One stat in particular sums up Alcaraz’s achievements so far. Of all the active players to have played at least 20 matches against Top 10 opponents, only Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray also hold a positive record.

The ultimate survivor
The strength of character of true champions is at its most evident when they are faced with great adversity. In a sport like tennis, when the scoreboard can flip in an instant, the mental strength required to find a way to win takes on an extra dimension.

Alcaraz has been able to play his best tennis when matches have forced him into extreme situations. His record in deciding sets is one of the best on Tour. Although his career is still young, 31 wins from 45 final sets make the Spaniard a true survivor when the chips are down.

A win rate of almost 70 per cent when it is do-or-die time shows that when it comes to digging deep and finding an extra gear, few players bounce back stronger than Juan Carlos Ferrero’s understudy.

Resistant in defeat
Alcaraz’s 100 wins on Tour prove he is a formidable winner. If we delve into the nature of his defeats, though, we also find a tremendous fighter. An athlete prepared to give his all on court, to either take the spoils or force his opponents to wrestle them from his clutches.

Of the 132 Tour matches throughout his career, Alcaraz has left the court without a set to his name in just 12. The Murcia native has learned to remain focused, regardless of the score, as shown by his 10 tour-level finals (7-3). In all three where he was unable to get his hands on the trophy, he ensured his opponents would have to endure the agony of a deciding set.

This competitive nature has become fiercer as his career has progressed. In the past 15 months, the Spaniard has only left a tennis court empty-handed on two occasions. Those matches came in the two tournaments following his first Grand Slam win in New York, and the huge emotional effort entailed in achieving his historic victory.

Prophet in his own land
With a special ability to connect with the spectators, Alcaraz has been able to repay his fans’ loyalty when he has had the opportunity to play at home. The Murcia native is already an icon for the Spanish crowds, who await his return in a few weeks with great anticipation.

Despite his short career, Alcaraz has already managed to claim two prestigious titles in Spain; the ATP 500 in Barcelona and the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid. The defending champion at both events, Alcaraz has a 14-3 record on home soil, a figure that will surely grow in the coming years.

After an action-packed first seven days at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the 2023 BNP Paribas Open has reached the quarter-final stage. On Wednesday, four of the remaining players in the draw will step out on Stadium 1 aiming to prolong their stay in ‘Tennis Paradise’.

They include the two players that own the most and second-most match wins on Tour, respectively, in 2023 — Daniil Medvedev (22 wins) and Cameron Norrie (21). They seek to add to their tallies on Wednesday in order to book a semi-final spot at the first ATP Masters 1000 event of the season.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina stands in the way of fifth seed Medvedev, while one of two Americans left in the draw — Frances Tiafoe — will hope to ride home support to victory against Norrie. ATPTour.com previews the quarter-final matchups from the bottom half of the BNP Paribas Open draw.

View Singles Draw | View Doubles Draw | View Schedule

[10] Cameron Norrie (GBR) Vs. [14] Frances Tiafoe (USA)

After notching his 150th tour-level victory in the fourth round against Alejandro Tabilo, Tiafoe will hope to hit more milestones as he prepares for his first quarter-final appearance in Indian Wells. The American has not dropped a set in his three matches this fortnight and, should he defeat Norrie for the first time on Wednesday, would equal his career-high of No. 14 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

Looking further ahead, the American could potentially crack the Top 10 for the first time by reaching his maiden ATP Masters 1000 championship match in California. However, the 25-year-old Tiafoe will not be looking past his clash with the in-form 2021 Indian Wells champion Norrie, who prevailed in the pair’s only previous ATP Head2Head meeting in 2021 in Delray Beach.

“He’s a former champ here and he’s getting everything out of his career,” said 2022 US Open semi-finalist Tiafoe of Norrie, who is on an eight-match winning streak. “I have nothing but respect for that guy. He’s putting some miles on those legs and getting a lot of wins while doing it.”

Norrie’s fourth-round victory against sixth seed Andrey Rublev was yet another triumph based on the Briton’s ability to absorb an opponent’s power and redirect it to his own advantage. Having also beaten Carlos Alcaraz (in the Rio de Janeiro final) during his current winning streak, the No. 12-ranked Norrie will aim to maintain his form against the free-hitting Tiafoe. Yet the American is confident he can give the home fans something to cheer in the opening act of Wednesday’s Stadium 1 schedule,

“We’re both in totally different places in our careers than last time we played,” said Tiafoe. “He’s playing some of the best tennis of his life and so am I. It should be a great show, and I’m going to be coming for him.”

[5] Daniil Medvedev Vs. [23] Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)

Not even rolling his ankle in the second set of Tuesday’s fourth-round epic against Alexander Zverev could disrupt Medvedev’s winning habit. After having his ankle taped, the fifth seed returned to court to clinch his 17th consecutive tour-level win.

What is currently the second-longest winning streak of Medvedev’s career began a month ago with a Rotterdam win against Davidovich Fokina, and the Spaniard is now his quarter-final opponent in California. Medvedev’s three-set first-round win in the Netherlands was the catalyst for a red-hot run of form that has so far seen the 27-year-old lift three ATP Tour trophies in as many weeks (Rotterdam, Doha, Dubai) and now surge to his maiden quarter-final in Indian Wells.

Davidovich Fokina knows he will likely have to be at his fiery best if he wants to bookend Medvedev’s winning streak. Despite trailing 0-2 in his ATP Head2Head series against the fifth seed, the Spaniard can draw confidence from the fact he has claimed the opening set in both matches. His crowd-pleasing, all-action style could also play a role in drumming up support from the fans on Stadium 1 as the World No. 28 aims to reach his second Masters 1000 semi-final.

^{_{Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in fourth-round action on Tuesday. Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour}}

Matching the World No. 6’s consistency from the baseline will nonetheless be a tough ask for Davidovich Fokina. As Medvedev’s 17 previous opponents have found out, putting balls past the 18-time tour-level titlist in this form is one of the biggest challenges on Tour. A stunning defensive smash past Zverev on Tuesday was the most recent demonstration of the sort of defiant defence the Spaniard can expect to face on Wednesday.

“Only thing I said to myself, just hit it full power, there is no other choice,” said Medvedev, when asked about his remarkable winner against Zverev. “I hit it crosscourt. It was amazing shot. Well, even if you try to practise it, you probably miss eight or nine out of 10… That’s great to have such shots in such important moments. That saves your life.”

In Doubles Action…

The doubles quarter-final action also kicks off on Wednesday, when defending champions John Isner and Jack Sock seek to improve on their 10-1 record as a team in Indian Wells against Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini.
The American duo lifted the title in 2018 as well as last year in the California desert, and Sock has defeated Bolelli and Fognini in Tennis Paradise before — alongside Vasek Pospisil in the 2015 championship match.

In the final match of the day on Stadium 2, Doha champions Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden take on Canadian singles stars Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov. Of the four, only Bopanna has reached the semi-finals in Indian Wells before (in 2011).