Carlos Alcaraz demonstrated his title defense prowess at Indian Wells by securing a straight-set victory over Fabian Marozsan, advancing to the quarter-finals with a dominant performance against the Hungarian.
In a match lasting 75 minutes, the world number two Alcaraz asserted his authority with a 6-3 6-3 triumph over Marozsan, showcasing his determination to become the first player since Novak Djokovic in 2016 to defend the Indian Wells title.
Reflecting on his victory, Alcaraz admitted to feeling nervous before facing Marozsan, who had previously defeated him in straight sets at last year’s Italian Open. However, the 20-year-old Spaniard remained focused and executed his game plan effectively to secure a convincing win.
Alcaraz broke Marozsan’s serve twice in the opening set and capitalized on crucial opportunities to secure the decisive break in the second set, sealing his place in the quarter-finals for the third consecutive year at Indian Wells.
Despite his commanding performance, Alcaraz acknowledged areas for improvement, emphasizing his desire to serve better and continue refining his game as he progresses in the tournament.
In the men’s draw, Greek 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a surprising defeat to Jiri Lehecka, who claimed a 6-2 6-4 victory. Meanwhile, Alcaraz awaits the outcome of the match between Alexander Zverev and Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals.
In the women’s draw, Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk advanced to the quarter-finals with a convincing win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, setting up a clash with Russia’s Anastasia Potapova. Additionally, American Emma Navarro secured a hard-fought victory over Elina Svitolina, further adding excitement to the tournament’s unfolding narrative.