Phenomenal Carlos Alcaraz remains on course for a third straight Indian Wells title with win over Francisco Cerundolo
ATP
The two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz took another step toward defending his title at Indian Wells 2025 by defeating Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 7-6(4). With this win, the former world No. 1 secured his place in the semifinals, where he will face British left-hander Jack Draper.
Alcaraz entered Thursday night’s match against Cerundolo showing exactly why he feels so comfortable at Indian Wells. The French Open champion had barely broken a sweat in his previous matches.
The Spaniard began his campaign by defeating Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-2, 6-4 without major issues. In the next round, he overcame the dangerous Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-2, maintaining control throughout. In the third round, Alcaraz faced Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, and what was expected to be his toughest match turned into a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory.
So far, Alcaraz has dominated his encounters with Argentine players 10-1, with his only loss coming to Federico Coria in 2020.
Cerundolo, on the other hand, benefited from Novak Djokovic's early exit, which would have been his potential second-round opponent. The Argentine defeated local Mackenzie McDonald in a tough three-set battle, then beat Botic Van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, before surprising No. 10 Alex de Miñaur 7-5, 6-3 in the third round.
The world No. 26 has an impressive record against top 10 opponents: 12-13. One more win would bring him to a 50% win rate against the world’s best.
First Set
The weather began to play a factor early on, and unlike the previous day, Alcaraz wasn’t as comfortable in the opening stages of the match, saving seven break points before taking a 3-2 lead. His first serve percentage was low, and his second serve was shaky, leading to many lost points.
Cerundolo, motivated and playing at a high level, was looking for his second ATP 1000 semifinal appearance, having made it to the 2022 Miami Open semis where he was defeated by Casper Ruud.
As the set progressed, Alcaraz started to take control from the baseline, capitalizing on Cerundolo's dip in performance. In the eighth game, Alcaraz broke Cerundolo’s serve to take a 5-3 lead and closed out the set 6-3.
Cerundolo regretted wasting so many opportunities, as Alcaraz capitalized on the crucial break. The Spaniard finished the set with 10 winners and 14 unforced errors, while Cerundolo had only five winners and 15 unforced errors.
On the stretch 🤩@carlosalcaraz #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/Y4sPQnNKhl
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 14, 2025
Second Set
Both players gifted some spectacular points in the second set’s opening stages, with both struggling with their serves but making up for it with some fantastic rallies.
In the fourth game, Cerundolo earned another break opportunity, and this time, he took it. It was the first time Alcaraz dropped serve in the tournament. With the momentum now on Cerundolo’s side, he held his serve to take a 4-1 lead, playing some of his best tennis with his forehand.
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However, the advantage didn’t last long, as Alcaraz immediately took charge, broke back, and leveled the score at 4-4. The pressure then shifted to Cerundolo’s serve, where Alcaraz continued to capitalize.
Both players held their serves to force a tiebreak, where Cerundolo started with a double fault, allowing Alcaraz to quickly gain the upper hand. With the score at 5-4, Alcaraz sealed the match and the victory.
A significant win for Alcaraz, who is now just two steps away from a third consecutive title at Indian Wells. His next opponent will be world No. 1 Brit Jack Draper.
Match Statistics Cerundolo vs. Alcaraz
| Cerundolo | VS | Alcaraz |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 1 | Aces | 5 |
| 4 | Double Faults | 5 |
| 78% (57/73) | 1st Service Percentage | 66% (48/73) |
| 67% (38/57) | 1st Service Points Won | 75% (36/48) |
| 31% (5/16) | 2nd Service Points Won | 60% (15/25) |
| 33% (1/3) | Break Points Saved | 89% (8/9) |
| 80% (8/10) | Service Games | 91% (10/11) |
| Return | ||
| 25% (12/48) | 1st Return Points Won | 33% (19/57) |
| 40% (10/25) | 2nd Return Points Won | 69% (11/16) |
| - | Break Points Saved | - |
| Other | ||
| 1h 45m | Match Duration | 1h 45m |
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