Carlos Alcaraz kept his hopes alive for a historic Indian Wells “three-peat” with a dominant 6-2, 6-4 victory over Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the third round on Monday. The second-seeded Spaniard was in complete control from the outset, winning the first five games and firing over 10 winners in the opening set. Shapovalov, coming off a strong performance in Dallas, struggled to match Alcaraz’s intensity.
The four-time Grand Slam champion maintained his momentum in a flawless second set, never facing a break point. He sealed the win in under 90 minutes with a powerful overhead smash, securing his place in the final 16. Alcaraz will next face either Grigor Dimitrov or Gael Monfils.
“I knew at the beginning of the match that I had to be really focused. I had to start strong, knowing it was going to be a tough battle,” Alcaraz said after his win.
The Spaniard is aiming to become just the third player to win three consecutive Indian Wells titles, joining legends Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Djokovic, a former world number one, was eliminated in the second round.
“I’m really pleased with my performance today,” Alcaraz added. “There are a few things to improve, but I’m really happy.”
Sabalenka Powers Through
Belarusian world number one Aryna Sabalenka showcased her dominant serve to cruise past Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 6-2. After early exits in the Qatar Open and Dubai, Sabalenka looked sharp, quickly adapting to the conditions.
Despite dropping her serve early in the second set, she regained control and wrapped up the match efficiently. She will next face British lucky loser Sonay Kartal.
“It wasn’t as easy as the score suggests. The conditions were tricky, so I’m happy with how I managed it,” Sabalenka said.
American Players Shine
The windy conditions in the California desert posed challenges, but American players gave home fans plenty to celebrate. Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, Taylor Fritz, and Ben Shelton all advanced with impressive third-round victories.
Third-seeded Gauff overcame a tense finish to defeat Greece’s Maria Sakkari 7-6(1), 6-2. Despite hitting six double faults in the final game, she eventually closed out the match on her sixth match point with a forehand winner.
“Except for the last game, I thought I played really well,” Gauff said. “Obviously, I was a bit disappointed with how I finished, but that’s just the perfectionist in me.”
Gauff will now face Swiss player Belinda Bencic, whom she has beaten twice before, including in the Australian Open round of 16 earlier this year.