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Thursday Preview: Hurkacz Faces Dimitrov In Indian Wells, Continues Turin Push

Hubert Hurkacz, Diego Schwartzman, Cameron Norrie and Grigor Dimitrov all feature on Thursday as the BNP Paribas Open hits the business end of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

Ninth seed Hurkacz continues his push for a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals in November when he faces No. 23 seed Grigor Dimitrov for the first time second on Stadium 1. After a series of strong performances in 2021, including his first Masters 1000 crown at the Miami Open presented by Itau, Hurkacz aims to rise to eighth position in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin with victory over Dimitrov. The Bulgarian, winner of the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals crown, recorded his second Top 3 win of the year on Wednesday when he beat in-form US Open champion Daniil Medvedev.

Hurkacz added to his Miami title in October by lifting his fourth ATP Tour title at the Moselle Open (d. Carreno Busta). The Pole also advanced to his first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon (l. to Djokovic), while Dimitrov came into Indian Wells on the back of a semi-final finish at the San Diego Open (l. to Ruud).

Medvedev On Dimitrov: ‘I Don’t See Him Losing To Anybody’ 
Bottini On Dimitrov’s Win Against Medvedev: ‘He Kept Believing’ 
Hurkacz Boosts Turin Hopes In Indian Wells
Formula 1 & Minis: Hurkacz’s Love Of Cars

Watch Wednesday Highlights From Indian Wells

Only three places — and 315 points — separate Cameron Norrie (13th) and Diego Schwartzman (15th) in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin and they meet for the fourth time on Thursday morning. Through to his first Masters 1000 quarter-final, Norrie will play with a great deal of confidence as he goes for his 45th match win of the season. The Briton, who has reached ATP Tour finals on every surface this year, has won his past two ATP Head2Head hard-court meetings against No. 11 seed Schwartzman.

There are also two doubles quarter-finals, with Italians Fabio Fognini and Lorenzo Sonego challenging eighth seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo in the final match on Stadium 1. Russian stars Aslan Karatsev and Andrey Rublev meet good friends Rohan Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov not before 6pm on Stadium 2.

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SCHEDULE – THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

STADIUM 1 start 11:00 am
ATP – [21] C. Norrie (GBR) vs [11] D. Schwartzman (ARG)
ATP – [23] G. Dimitrov (BUL) vs [8] H. Hurkacz (POL)

Not Before 3:00 PM
WTA – [18] A. Kontaveit (EST) vs [12] O. Jabeur (TUN)

Not Before 6:00 PM
WTA – [21] P. Badosa (ESP) vs [10] A. Kerber (GER)
ATP – F. Fognini (ITA) / L. Sonego (ITA) vs [8] I. Dodig (CRO) / M. Melo (BRA)

STADIUM 2 start 1:00 pm
WTA – [3] S. Aoyama (JPN) / E. Shibahara (JPN) vs [2] S. Hsieh (TPE) / E. Mertens (BEL)

Not Before 2:30 pm
WTA – L. Kichenok (UKR) / J. Ostapenko (LAT) vs V. Kudermetova (RUS) / E. Rybakina (KAZ)

Not Before 6:00 pm
ATP – R. Bopanna (IND) / D. Shapovalov (CAN) vs A. Karatsev (RUS) / A. Rublev (RUS)

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Peers/Polasek Upset Mektic/Pavic To Reach Indian Wells SFs

John Peers and Filip Polasek are still early in their partnership, but they have found great rhythm as a team, as evidenced by their 6-2, 6-3 upset of top seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic on Wednesday evening at the BNP Paribas Open.

The seventh seeds saved the three break points they faced and converted all three break points they earned to reach the Indian Wells semi-finals after 59 minutes. It was an impressive performance against the Croatians, who have lifted nine tour-level trophies together this season.

The Australian-Slovakian duo will play eighth seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo or Italians Fabio Fognini and Lorenzo Sonego for a place in the final. Dodig and Polasek won this year’s Australian Open together.

On the other half of the draw, German Tim Puetz and New Zealand’s Michael Venus eliminated fifth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau. The unseeded duo will next challenge Indian Rohan Bopanna and Canadian Denis Shapovalov or Russians Aslan Karatsev and Andrey Rublev.

Did You Know?
Peers and Polasek, who first began playing together in Washington, have won 10 of their past 12 matches, including runs to the US Open semi-finals and the San Diego final.

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Zverev Breaks New Ground With Monfils Win

Alexander Zverev sent a warning to the rest of the field at the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday night after he allowed Frenchman Gael Monfils just four games in their fourth-round clash.

The German is a man intent on adding a third ATP Masters 1000 trophy to his haul in 2021 and closed to within three wins of doing so with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over the 14^th seed. For the second match in succession Zverev beat an opponent for the first time in four ATP Head2Head encounters, following his third-round win against Andy Murray.

He has now won 20 of his past 21 matches on hard courts, including runs to the Tokyo Olympics gold medal and Cincinnati trophy. The third seed struck 19 winners to Monfils’ 10 and just 11 unforced errors to his opponent’s 13.

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“I did feel well on the court today. Obviously Gael is someone I haven’t beaten before so I know that I had to play my best tennis,” Zverev said on court. “I definitely was not far away even though I missed a few volleys ,but apart from that I felt pretty good.”

He won 76 per cent of first-serve points and was all over the Monfils’ second serve, winning 67 per cent of points. Zverev was particularly effective at net too, where he claimed 19 of 25 points.

The first set was secured in just 25 minute and Monfils lifted his game as he stayed on serve to 3-4 before an error of judgment at the net proved costly in the second set. The high-flying Frenchman let Zverev’s backhand lob sail over only for it to drop in and the German went on to break for 5-3 on a winning backhand volley. Zverev closed out the contest in little more than an hour and booked a quarter-final clash with 31^st seed Taylor Fritz.

“I always love [Indian Wells] but I’ve just never played well here,” he said. “But I did well in Cincinnati as well where I’d never won a match before this year and then I won the tournament, so hopefully this can be a similar week for me. I’m looking forward to it. I’m feeling well, I’m playing pretty OK tennis and hopefully it can continue this week.”

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Tsitsipas Wears Down De Minaur To Reach Indian Wells Quarter-Finals

Stefanos Tsitsipas has charged into his fourth North American ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final from as many events this year after a gruelling three-set victory over Australian Alex de Minaur at the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday.

The Greek had made the quarter-finals in Miami, as well as back-to-back semi-finals in Toronto and CIncinnati before he added Indian Wells to the list with a his 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-2 win over the 22^nd seed. The second seed overcame 40 unforced errors – eight more than his opponent’s – and finished with 34 winners, two more than De Minaur, to book a showdown with unseeded Nikoloz Basilashvili, an earlier winner over Karen Khachanov.

“I feel like today’s game I was mostly pushing against myself rather than my opponent and it was one of those matches where I really had to get to the limit and show what I’m capable of when I’m in the red zone,” Tsitsipas said on court. “That was incredible the way I just stayed in the match. I had to go through so many difficulties in order to find a solution and I executed towards the end of the match.

Since his return from a bout of Covid-19 post Wimbledon, De Minaur had struggled to recapture his sharpest form. He lost six of his subsequent seven singles matches before he posted consecutive wins at Indian Wells, the first time he had so since his fifth ATP Tour title at Eastbourne.

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Tsitsipas held a commanding 5-0 ATP Head2Head advantage at tour level over the 22-year-old and had not dropped a set to him since 2018. After the pair traded early breaks on Stadium 1 the shot-making level from both lifted and it was De Minaur who took control in the tie-break as he raced to 5/0.

The Australian had the set in the bag on his third opportunity and after a pair of early breaks in the second set, he dug out a tough hold on a flawless drop-shot winner to keep his nose in front 3-2. As the match approached the two-hour mark, De Minaur’s level dipped slightly as he landed just one first serve in the 11^th game of the set.

Tsitsipas secured the break and twice held set point on serve, but De Minaur found the answer each time to force another tie-break. In a reversal of the first-set tie-break, it was the Greek who bolted out of the blocks to 4/0 before he levelled the match after a 75-minute second set.

Neither player had consolidated a break of serve throughout the opening two sets, but Tsitsipas brought that to an end when he jumped to 3-1 in the deciding set. There was still plenty of fight left in his opponent, but as De Minaur served to stay in the match cramps began to set in and he was broken to end the contest at the two-hour, 46-minute mark.

“I know there are a lot of seeds, which play great tennis. My biggest priority is to play my best against any player regardless of the ranking or status,” Tsitsipas said. “This week has been a difficult journey with lots of battles, two three-setters so far, so this is something I’m going to take as a learning experience and use it for something better in the tournament.”

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Medvedev On Dimitrov: 'I Don't See Him Losing To Anybody'

Top seed Daniil Medvedev is remaining upbeat despite suffering a shock collapse that led to a fourth-round defeat to Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday at the BNP Paribas Open.

The Russian led by a set and a double break before falling to the World No. 28. However, having won 18 of his past 20 matches on North American soil, Medvedev was in a reflective mood as he praised the performance of Dimitrov.

On whether the 13-time tour-level champion could put the result into perspective, Medvedev said: “100 per cent. If I would lose the US Open final, maybe [I] would have been a little bit tough on myself. But I do think I see kind of the reasons why this happened. Grigor played [the] second part of the match better than anybody did against me [at the] US Open that I won. Playing this level, I don’t see him losing to anybody, but let’s see the result.

“I don’t see [it as the] end of the world this match. I’m definitely going to just continue working for the next one and just try to be better next time, because, Indian Wells, I really like the place, so I want to try to do better one day.”

The World No. 2 has had a huge amount of success in recent months in North America. Medvedev captured his first major title at the US Open in September, before he helped guide Team Europe to a fourth-consecutive victory over Team World at the Laver Cup.

The 25-year-old, who won his fourth ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto in August, suggested that the slower conditions in California played a factor in his defeat.

“I don’t remember myself losing three service games, even four service games ever, I guess, on hard courts,” Medvedev said. “That shows how slow this court is and the conditions, more like clay, I would say, which I don’t like, because to lose serve four times is just unacceptable. I knew that during the day, [it is] much tougher to control the ball for me, especially on the serve.“

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Fritz Fires Past Sinner To Reach Indian Wells QFs

Taylor Fritz is turning into a conqueror of Italians this year in Indian Wells .

One day after upsetting Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, the American defeated 10th seed Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday to reach the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals. The American is into the last eight at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time.

Fritz saved two break points when he served out the match, including one in a lung-busting rally, which he punctuated with a fist pump after Sinner mishit a forehand well out. Then on his first match point, the World No. 39 crushed a backhand winner up the line and let out a cathartic roar as he threw his arms in the air.

Big win. Big reaction. ?#BNPPO21 | @Taylor_Fritz97 pic.twitter.com/e3x2zJ07AB

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) October 14, 2021

Not only is this the 23-year-old’s best result of the season, but he has advanced through the draw decisively. Fritz has not lost a set, and none of the six sets he has played has gone further than 6-4.

The 2019 Eastbourne titlist will next play third seed Alexander Zverev or 14th seed Gael Monfils. He will try to reach his fifth tour-level semi-final of the season.

Fritz and Sinner are both big-hitting baseliners who like to control the action. And it was the home favourite who was able to stay on the baseline and remain calm under pressure, saving five of the eight break points he faced.

The California-native prevented Sinner from making his second Masters 1000 quarter-final of the season. The Italian, who only won 48 per cent of his service points against Fritz, beat John Millman in the second round and in the third round received a walkover from John Isner, who rushed home to attend to the birth of his third child.

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Indian Wells: Cameron Norrie through to last eight

British number two Cameron Norrie edges past American Tommy Paul to reach the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells Masters.

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Dimitrov Roars Back in Indian Wells, Shocks Medvedev To Reach QFs

Grigor Dimitrov produced one of the comebacks of the season on Wednesday at the BNP Paribas Open as he rallied from a set and a double-break down to shock top seed Daniil Medvedev in Indian Wells.

The 23rd seed rolled back the years as he battled back from 4-6, 1-4 down to move past the Russian 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 and reach the quarter-finals in Indian Wells for the first time.

“He is such a tough player and competitor,” Dimitrov said in his on-court interview. “Over the past year, I have played him a few times and haven’t been able to find a way. But today, I just felt something at 1-4 and I calmed myself down and started to take better decisions and started to control the pace of the game, which I really believed helped me. In the end it was just very solid and smart play.”

After appearing in total control, Medvedev lost his way, making just 34 per cent of his first serves in the second set as Dimitrov forced the World No. 2 into errors with his aggressive game. The Bulgarian won eight straight games and eventually advanced after two hours and 16 minutes.

It is the first time Dimitrov has defeated a top two opponent since 2016, when he overcame Andy Murray in Miami. The World No. 28 has now reduced his ATP Head2Head deficit with Medvedev to 2-3. Dimitrov will next face eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz after the Pole defeated Russia’s Aslan Karatsev 6-1, 6-3.

“I am happy that I get the opportunity to play again at this level,” Dimitrov added. “There were lots of ups and downs and you never know what is going to happen, so I am really trying to be appreciative of the moment I get to be out here on the court and work and stay humble. That is the only thing you can control.”

With his victory, the eight-time tour-level champion is into the quarter-finals at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time this season. Dimitrov enjoyed a run to the last eight at the Australian Open in January, where he also beat a top five player, then-World No. 3 Dominic Thiem.

In a lively start, Medvedev showcased his current confidence in the first game, breaking Dimitrov immediately to take control. The Russian won 80 per cent (16/20) of his first-serve points in the opening set as he hit with great length, committing just five unforced errors as he moved ahead.

Medvedev then raced into a 4-1 lead in the second set, with Dimitrov unable to hit through the World No. 2. However, from a double-break down, Dimitrov began to find his best tennis. The Bulgarian rolled off five straight games to level as he played aggressively, while Medvedev lost focus from the baseline and on serve.

Fuelled by momentum, Dimitrov, who hit 25 winners in the match, did not let up as he continued to frustrate Medvedev in the decider. He continued to approach the net effectively and sealed his victory when Medvedev hit a forehand long.

Medvedev had won 18 of his past 19 matches on North American soil, capturing his fourth Masters 1000 title in Toronto and his first major at the US Open. The Russian was aiming to reach the quarter-finals in Indian Wells for the first time.

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Hurkacz Boosts Turin Hopes In Indian Wells

Hubert Hurkacz got a double dose of good news Wednesday when he boosted his Nitto ATP Finals hopes at the direct expense of qualification rival Aslan Karatsev, cruising past his fellow Turin contender 6-1, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals in Indian Wells.

The 24-year-old, who also advanced to the last eight in California in 2019, clinched his third tour-level title of the season in Metz last month and began the match in ninth spot (2,865 points) in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin.

The eighth seed is aiming to make his debut at the season finale, to be held at the Pala Alpitour in Turin from 14-21 November. Hurkacz hit with consistent depth against Karatsev as he dictated from the baseline to advance after 64 minutes.

On trying to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals, Hurkacz said: “Of course, you want to be there. It’s the last tournament of the year for the eight best players in the world, so you try to do your best. You know, just trying your best and whoever is gotten there, that meant they had a better year than you.”

Hurkacz has now levelled his ATP Head2Head series with the Russian at 1-1, gaining revenge from his defeat to Karatsev in San Diego in September. He will next face top seed Daniil Medvedev or Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals. The Pole is yet to drop a set in Indian Wells, having overcome Alexei Popyrin or Frances Tiafoe in his first two matches.

“Today’s performance was good on my side,” Hurkacz said. “I returned well. I was making a lot of balls. I was also getting some free points on the serve, so that was very important for today’s game.”

Earlier this year, Hurkacz lifted the trophy at the Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com, before he captured his first ATP Masters 1000 crown at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

Karatsev, who was making his debut in Indian Wells, sits 12th (2030) in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin. The 29-year-old was aiming for a strong run in California to close the gap on those above him, with 10th placed Jannik Sinner (2595) still alive in Indian Wells.

Fellow Turin hopeful Casper Ruud, who began the match in seventh spot (3,015) in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin, was unable to follow in Hurkacz’s footsteps as Diego Schwartzman beat him 6-3, 6-3.

In an entertaining clash, Schwartzman played aggressively and manoeuvred Ruud around the court, breaking four times to advance after one hour and 44 minutes.

“It is a big win because I was trying to find my best tennis,” Schwartzman said. “At the beginning of the year I was very tired, it was not easy for the South American players to be travelling all the time. [With] no way to go back home, it was very tough. Sometimes your mind is not there. Since Roland Garros, when the bubbles finished on the ATP Tour, I started to feel a little bit better and I am practising better than before.”

The Argentine had never been beyond the third round in six previous appearances in Indian Wells. He will face Los Cabos champion Cameron Norrie or American Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals.

“I am playing better, I am feeling better,” Schwartzman added. “I am running, I am hitting winners, I am serving better and returning better. The confidence is high right now, so now is a good time.”

Schwartzman lifted the trophy on home soil in Buenos Aires in March and will be aiming to reach his second tour-level semi-final of the season in Indian Wells.

Having lost his past two meetings against Ruud, Schwartzman now leads the Norwegian 5-2 in their ATP Head2Head Series. The 29-year-old saved two match points in his first-round victory against Maxime Cressy and battled from a set-and-a-break down in his second match against Daniel Evans.

Ruud, who was making his main draw debut at the BNP Paribas Open, captured his fifth tour-level title of the season in San Diego at the start of October. Like Hurkacz, the 22-year-old is aiming to make his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals in November.

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Formula 1 & Minis: Hurkacz's Love Of Cars

Hubert Hurkacz has hit the gas pedal on his career this season, winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Miami and reaching a career-high No. 11 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. It is only fitting that the Pole is a big fan of cars.

The 24-year-old’s passion for them started at a young age, when he enjoyed collecting mini car models.

“I always would ask my parents to get me another one. To be honest, they were a bit tough on me. They didn’t want to get me those,” Hurkacz told ATPTour.com, cracking a laugh. “But since then I loved cars.”

For years, when Hurkacz has passed an interesting car on the road, he has done research to find as much information about it as possible. He remembers first driving a car in his late teens and loving the experience immediately.

“From the beginning, I just enjoyed driving a car, enjoyed fast cars and go karts when I was a kid,” Hurkacz said. “I didn’t go that often. But I really like motorsports and I love Formula 1.”

 

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The 24-year-old has always enjoyed Formula 1. But he became an even bigger fan after watching Netflix’s ‘Drive To Survive’, a behind-the-scenes documentary of a season in the sort.

“I [began to] really follow it every single race, qualifying. I really enjoyed watching,” Hurkacz said. “[There is] such a big process to get the car ready for the race, there’s so much data, so many things.

“The drivers are just insane driving these machines that are so fast.

“I really love McLaren. A couple of weeks ago they had an amazing win. There’s of course Lando (Norris) and Daniel Ricciardo, so, I also really like Charles Leclerc. I like most of the drivers, but I would say those are my favourites.”

There is a Polish Formula 1 driver, Robert Kubica — currently a reserve driver for Alfa Romeo — who overcame a nearly fatal accident a decade ago. Earlier this year, Kubica filled in for former world champion Kimi Raikkonen after the Finn tested positive for Covid-19.

“I’ve never met him personally, that would be amazing if I can talk to him of course,” Hurkacz said. “I was supporting him, I was super happy about the comeback that he made into Formula 1, and now he’s the third driver [for Alfa Romeo].

“It’s incredible after what he has gone through, that he was able to come back. It’s really insane and it’s very inspiring.”

 

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Hurkacz is enjoying his tennis at the BNP Paribas Open, where he will play Australian Open semi-finalist Aslan Karatsev in the fourth round. But before the tournament, he also enjoyed the proximity to nice, clear roads.

That is because Hurkacz is driving a McLaren 720s during the tournament, and he was able to go for a joy ride to recharge before the event. During the US Open, he drove another McLaren.

“Can’t complain about my ride to the US Open this year,” he wrote on social media.

Hurkacz will now hope to accelerate once more as he tries to secure one of the final four spots in the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin from 14-21 November. That pursuit continues on Wednesday against Karatsev.

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