Alcaraz springs three-peat quest into action in Indian Wells

Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz kickstarted his 2025 campaign in style Saturday at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

The 21-year-old delivered a typically assured performance to ease past Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-2 and reach the third round at the ATP Masters 1000 for a fourth consecutive year. Beekeeper Lance Davis, who famously took care of a bee swarm during Alcaraz’s quarter-final clash with Alexander Zverev last year, was present to greet the Spaniard onto the court upon his return to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

“I was really nervous, it wasn’t easy to control the emotions,” said Alcaraz, who extended his win streak in Indian Wells to 13. “I had to be focused to calm down, to take control of the nerves and try and play good tennis. I think it did pretty well. I’m really happy to get through and start the title defence.

“It’s slow, the ball bounces a lot, the conditions are pretty good for me. I just love playing here. I feel at home, really calm off the court. The fans have always been good to me, so I just appreciate that love and support. Everything here suits me and my game.”

Alcaraz, the No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is bidding to become the first player born in 1991 or later to three-peat at an ATP Tour event. If he is successful, the Spaniard will also join Roger Federer (2004-06) and Novak Djokovic (2014-16) as the only men to win three consecutive singles titles at the event. Alcaraz will next take on Denis Shapovalov, who eased past qualifier Adam Walton 6-3, 6-2.

Despite only landing 44 per cent of first serves (21/48) in his second-round clash with Halys, Alcaraz was clinical when he found it. The second seed won 95 per cent (20/21) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats, during his 67-minute victory.

Halys, who sits at a career high of No. 59 in the PIF ATP Rankings, was aiming to score the biggest win of his career. Yet the Frenchman was unable to contain the two-time defending champion, who eventually found his range and struck 24 winners.

In other second-round action, Matteo Arnaldi shocked seventh seed Andrey Rublev 6-4, 7-5 to advance into the third round. The Italian held firm in a nervy contest and edged the 27-year-old in one hour and 47 minutes. He saved 64 per cent (7/11) of the break points he faced en route to levelling the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series 2-2.

Rublev, who clinched the ATP 500 title in Doha in February, has struggled to find his form since. The Russian suffered his second consecutive opening-match defeat following a first-round loss to Halys at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in late February.

Arnaldi will next face Brandon Nakashima. Nakashima defeated Rinky Hijikata 7-5, 6-1.