Only two matches separate four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz from achieving a new career milestone as he survived a stern quarterfinal test in the shape and form of 25th seed Francisco Cerundolo on Thursday night.
The Argentine forced the Spanish player to trail by a break for the first time this season. Moreover, he went toe-to-toe with the defending champion, demanding his opponent to pull his best tennis to take a second-set tiebreaker, sealing the triumph.
The stakes are high as ever for Alcaraz this season at Tennis Paradise, as he bids to become the third player in history to complete a three-peat at the BNP Paribas Open, a feat only the legendary Roger Federer and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic have previously accomplished.
After securing an impressive 16th straight win at the tournament, he commented: “Francisco was playing really great tennis from the beginning to the end of the match.
“I took my chances, just a few, and was happy to take them. It was a really great match. I have to give credit to him for keeping a great level.”
The Murcia native advanced to his ninth ATP Masters 1000 semifinal, meeting for the fifth time at tour-level British No. 1 Jack Draper, who rallied to take down 11th seed Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-5 to reach the last four at this level for the first time.
Courtside, the 2024 US Open semifinalist, outlined: “I didn’t know what to expect today, honestly. I’d hit with Ben maybe once or twice, but very short practices.
“I’ve watched a lot of him. He’s an incredible showman with weapons. He can hit a winner from anywhere. The serve’s huge. He’s a great competitor, and he’s been really consistent.”
Throughout his run at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the 23-year-old overpowered Brazilian rising talent Joao Fonseca and three American players, Jenson Brooksby, former Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz, and Shelton, all without dropping a set.
“I knew coming out here facing him on this court in front of the Americans was going to be really difficult today, and it was,” Draper added when speaking about Shelton.
“Huge respect to him, huge credit to him. He’s going to keep on winning and having an amazing career, so I wish him all the best.”
The 13th seed is on the verge of reaching the top 10 for the first time if he earns a spot in the final.
As a result of his campaign thus far in 2025, the left-handed is at a career-high of No. 11 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
“It means so much to me,” he asserted when addressing his performance in the first Masters 1000 of the season. “It’s why I am playing, why I put all the hard work in with my team, to play these matches on these courts, especially in a place like this.
“It’s what I’ve wanted since I was a kid, and to be here now is a bit surreal.”
The Brit enjoyed a breakthrough season last year, battling against his adversaries on the court and his physical issues off the court.
However, each time he faces a setback, he works even harder, finding a way to regroup and raise his level, coming back stronger to official competition.
Their most recent encounter took place in Melbourne last January.
The two-time ATP titlist gave the world No. 3 a walkover in the second set of their fourth-round match due to injury.
Previously, he made an impressive run at the major, winning three straight marathon five-set matches, coming off the back of a hip injury that prevented him from training with Alcaraz during the off-season.
A month later, competing in his first tournament since the Australian Open, Draper played three sets in his last three matches at the Qatar Open, including the final, a thriller eventually won by Andrey Rublev.
After an outstanding week in Qatar, he withdrew from the Dubai Duty-Free Championship to prioritize his recovery while looking to compete consistently throughout the year.
Meanwhile, the other semifinal will feature 12th seed Holger Rune against two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev.
Rune has found some of his best tennis this season at the tournament, producing a stunning performance to edge resurgent Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-4, 6-4, reaching back-to-back Indian Wells quarterfinals, his ninth on tour.
Then, the world No. 13 ended Dutch Tallon Griekspoor’s dream week in California to progress to his sixth Masters 1000 semifinal.
For his part, Medvedev beat Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(7), punching his ticket to the last four for the third consecutive time.
“The match was very tough because of the wind, so both of us were struggling in some moments,” the 20-time ATP titlist said. “It was tough to play tactically, technically, and its a little bit of luck here and there.”
On Saturday, he will attempt to keep his bid for the title going, aiming to achieve a third final in the desert, but first, he will have to overcome the in-form 21-year-old, who has been clinical with his shotmaking.
The world No. 6 leads the Dane 2-1 in their series; they faced one another last year in the event quarterfinals, a match the former won in straight sets.
“He beat me really easy in practice a couple of weeks ago - but practice is not a match,” Medvedev stressed about the Danish player.
“Happy to play against him. We have both had a great tournament so far.”