Alcaraz three-peat bid on track as Cerundolo downed
Neeroj
Mar 14, 2025
Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz fought off determined challenger Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the Indian Wells ATP Masters.
On another cold, blustery night in the California desert, Alcaraz battled back from 1-4 down in the second set, coming up with a break and two love service holds to force the tiebreaker as he kept his bid to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to win three straight Indian Wells titles on track.
"It was really difficult for me to start the match," said Alcaraz, who looked less comfortable in the windy weather than he did just a day before. "He got a lot of chances in the first set," Alcaraz said. "I'm just pleased about saving all of them and taking the only one that I had.
Alcaraz next faces Britain's Jack Draper, who reached his first Masters 1000 semi-final with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over American Ben Shelton.
Russian Daniil Medvedev, runner-up to Alcaraz each of the past two years, rallied from a break down in a wild, wind-blown final set to beat Arthur Fils 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (9/7).
The world number six booked a semi-final meeting with Denmark's Holger Rune, a 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 winner over Tallon Griekspoor.
Medvedev, a six-time Grand Slam finalist, trailed 20-year-old Fils 2-4 in the third set of a compelling clash that was momentarily paused as gusting winds sent towels and trash cans flying on Stadium Court.
France's Fils had shown admirable maturity in the face of Medvedev's formidable defensive skills.
He cut down on the unforced errors that marred his first set to win the second with ease and maintained his poise as he erased an early break in the third to seize the lead.
But Medvedev wouldn't be denied and after forcing the tiebreaker prevailed on his third match point when Fils pushed a backhand volley long.
Source: AFP
