Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz beat Fabian Maroszan 6-3 6-3 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells to avenge last year’s defeat against his Hungarian opponent in Rome.
Alcaraz claimed his 50th match win at Masters 1000 level to cruise into the quarter finals. Alcaraz is the highest seed left in the men’s draw following Novak Djokovic’s defeat against Italy’s world number 123 Luca Nardi.
Both players went on serve until the seventh game when Alcaraz earned his first break to take a 4-3 lead. Alcaraz won the next two games to seal the first set 6-3.
Alcaraz broke serve in the sixth game with a forehand passing shot to open up a 4-2 lead. Alcaraz hit a 105 mph forehand winner in the seventh game after saving two break points.
Maroszan held his serve at 15 in the eighth game. Alcaraz served out the win in his first match point to remain on track to become the first player to defend the Indian Wells singles title since Djokovic in 2016. Alcaraz has reached the quarter finals for the third consecutive year.
“After a great first set, it was time to keep going, keep pushing in the second set. Trying to break as soon as possible and be up in the score. Don’t let him play his style on the court, that’s what I was thinking and I think I did pretty well”, said Alcaraz.
Alcaraz will face either Alexander Zverev or Alex De Minaur in the quarter final.
Jiri Lehecka beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2 6-4 to reach the quarter final. Lehecka fired seven aces and won 84% of his first serve points. The Czech player will face the winner of the fourth round match between Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton.
Lehecka broke twice in the third and fifth games to win the first set 6-2. The Czech player earned a break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead and served out the win on his first match point.
Lehecka beat Alexander Zverev at last year’s United Cup before beating Cameron Norrie and Felix Auger Aliassime at the 2023 Australian Open before taking a set against Tsitsipas in the quarter final. Lehecka beat Rublev last year in Doha before losing to Andrey Rublev in the semifinals and beat Tommy Paul to reach the Round of 16 at Wimbledon. Lehecka won the title at Wimbledon before beating Karen Khachanov in Dubai.
