THURSDAY SCHEDULE and PREVIEW | 2024 Indian Wells Open: ALCARAZ-ZVEREV, SWIATEK-WOZNIACKI and MEDVEDEV-RUNE as all Quarter-Finals played

A bumper day awaits at Tennis Paradise as all eight Quarter-Final ties will be played in one day in California at the Indian Wells Open with some top ties set to take place and the line-up for the final weekend all to be set.

Never done before, it will hand an advantage though to one part of the draw who played two days ago so have had rest compared to those who have had to play likely four days in a row if they get to the final. Our preview looks ahead to the main ties at Indian Wells.

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Swiatek-Wozniacki, Zverev-Alcaraz and Medvedev-Rune lead trio of top ties

Despite the other clashes which see Anastasia Potapova face Marta Kostyuk and for instance on other courts, Tommy Paul faces Casper Ruud, Coco Gauff takes on Yue Yuan and Emma Navarro who dumped out Aryna Sabalenka takes on Maria Sakkari, it is perhaps the trio in the latter half of Stadium 1 that takes the attention.

It all begins with Iga Swiatek, the WTA World Number One and favourite for the title. She will face a former World Number One in Caroline Wozniacki who accounted for another former World No.1 in Angelique Kerber. Are you sensing a theme?

But this one is intriguing similar to when Sabalenka faced Raducanu in that Wozniacki has not had a test remotely as tough since her return to the court in the back end of 2023 and given she has spent most of her time away from the court commentating on games featuring Swiatek, she will likely have a pretty good handle on the game of the Pole. But it is one thing analysing it and there is another thing defeating her.

It could be a routine win for Swiatek, Wozniacki doing an Emma Navarro or it could be just a grueller for the former. That is what makes it intriguing and also sees two of the best from their respective generations face off.

Then it is the turn of the big men's battles as Alexander Zverev who is known to be a player that Carlos Alcaraz hates playing and sees as one of his big rivals next up. Alcaraz looks a different proposition this time around finally back towards his best and it all stemmed from his poor loss to Zverev in Melbourne. Can he crack the code?

Before we get Daniil Medvedev facing Holger Rune to round it off. A 1-1 head to head but only on Outdoor Clay, it doesn't read too much into it. Medvedev with a point to prove after losing to Sinner in the Australian Open final and then Rune after switching coaches and it seems to be paying dividends. An interesting tie awaits. Speaking of Sinner, he is in perhaps the most low profile Quarter-Final as he faces Jiri Lehecka, but given his imperious run and being unbeaten, he is bound to be the favourite for the title now and a danger to those likely playing three setters.

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Stadium 1

11 a.m.: Anastasia Potapova vs. Marta Kostyuk

Followed by: Iga Swiatek vs. Caroline Wozniacki

Not before 3 p.m.: Alexander Zverev vs. Carlos Alcaraz

6 p.m.: Daniil Medvedev vs. Holger Rune

Stadium 2

11 a.m.: Jiri Lehecka vs. Jannik Sinner

Not before 12:30 p.m.: Tommy Paul vs. Casper Ruud

Not before 3 p.m.: Coco Gauff vs. Yue Yuan

6 p.m.: Emma Navarro vs. Maria Sakkari

Stadium 2

11 a.m.: Asia Muhammad/Ena Shibahara vs. Storm Hunter/Katerina Siniakova

Followed by: Nicole Melichar-Martinez/Ellen Perez vs. Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens