Alcaraz dodges the threat of closing it in Indian Wells | ATP Tour

Indian Wells

Alcaraz dodges the threat of closing it in Indian Wells

The Spanish is already in the semifinals. Draper, his next opponent

March 14, 2025

For the first time in a year, Carlos Alcaraz is in a semifinals of Masters 1000. After falling into his last three room duels to this level, last year in Miami, Madrid and Shanghai, the Spaniard is back in this instance thanks to his victory of Thursday by 6-3, 7-6 (4) before the Argentine Francisco Cerún in the BNP Paribas Open.

No. 3 of the PIF ATP Rankings, champion of the last two editions in Indian Wells, is now the sixth Spanish tennis player with at least nine classifications to Masters 1000 semifinals, matching Rafael Nadal (76), David Ferrer (18), Carlos Moyà (12), his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero (11) and Sergi Bruguera (9).

In addition, the Murcian is already the third player who advances to the semifinals in at least four editions in a row in the history of this event, matching his compatriot Nadal (semifinalist without fail between 2006 to 2013), and Novak Djokovic (2011 to 2016).

But it has not been easy to achieve. From the beginning of the duel this Thursday, the last quarter of the final, it was clear that it should be used thoroughly to overcome current No. 26 of the world, who had 0/40 advantage with his return in the first game of cooling.

Alcaraz saved the three Break Points of that game, and three more in the rest of the partial: one in 1-1 and two in 2-2. He knew how to suffer in the best moments of the Argentine and the reward came with the rupture in the eighth game that confirmed without problem taking for set in the next game. 44 minutes needed the 21 -year -old right -handed to stay at a set of triumph.

But he had to go from less to more. Losing his service in the fourth game of the second set helped closing him to lead the score 4-1. Nothing to be surprised considering the current state of the Argentine, who came from defeating Alex de Miñaur to sign the sixth victory in his last seven duels before members of the Top 10 in Masters 1000.

However, Alcaraz immediately reacted by playing an almost perfect game in 4-2, and waiting for the opportunity to unbalance again. He arrived in the Tie-Break-who began with a double rival and his own oil-and did not let her let go. Alcaraz now leads his lexus ATP Headtohead with ‘Fran’ and reaches twelve consecutive victories against Argentine tennis players.

“Today it was about surviving,” said Alcaraz, who has won the eight sets that this fortnight has played. “I had to try to find good rhythm, a good rhythm for the game, and take advantage of the opportunities I was going to give me. I am proud of everything I have done today.”

This result means its triumph No. 16 consecutively in the desert. Only two players have achieved broader gusts in this event: Novak Djokovic (19 between 2014 and 2017) and Roger Federer (18 between 2004 and 2007).

“Tennis is about winning,” Alcaraz added. “It doesn’t matter how you do it. You do not think about playing a great tennis every game, every day. In this type of matches, you have to overcome the level. It is good behavior, mental strength, keep the rhythm all the time, try to find the right pace. I did not give the ball as clean as yesterday, for example, but I did what I had to do, and that’s what the tennis is about.”

On Saturday he will try to get a little more to the records of both when he measures the British Jack Draper, another who has not lost sets in the fortnight and who comes from overcoming 6-4, 7-5 to the local Ben Shylton.

The Spanish leads 3-0 the Lexus ATP Headtohead between them, but the 23-year-old left-handed the last complete duel of the rivalry (Queen’s Club 2024). This year at the Australian Open, Draper had to retire due to injury in the round of 16, when Alcaraz won 2-0 in sets.