Watanuki rides 47 winners to Tiafoe upset, Fils saves MP to beat Musetti

Despite facing home favourite Frances Tiafoe on Sunday at the BNP Paribas Open, Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki's fearless game earned him an outpouring of support from the Indian Wells crowd. The 26-year-old's adventurous flair was backed by substance as his shotmaking fuelled a 6-4, 7-6(6) upset against the 16th-seeded American.

With wins over Alexander Bublik, 19th seed Tomas Machac (via retirement) and Tiafoe, the No. 349 in the PIF ATP Rankings is the lowest-ranked man to reach the Indian Wells fourth round since tournament director Tommy Haas in 2004.

"I'm speechless. I can't find my words but I'm so happy to be here. I got injured last year, so I'm happy just to stay on the court," said Watanuki, who missed the bulk of last season with a knee injury.

"The most [important] thing about me, sometimes I'm a little bit nervous, sometimes I'm feeling down with the mentality. We tried to figure out that part. I try to enjoy more, even when I miss. A winner is much better, but even the miss I enjoy. That was the beauty here for me today."

California Dreamin' 🌴

World No. 349 @W412Yosuke knocks out Frances Tiafoe 6-4 7-6(6) to become the lowest-ranked man to reach Round 4 since No. 882 Tommy Haas in 2004. @BNPPARIBASOPEN | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/Yra7D8Xdsh

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 10, 2025

Watanuki fired 47 winners, including 16 aces, against Tiafoe while saving four of six break points, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He claimed the lone break of the opening set on his first set point, then twice stopped Tiafoe from serving out the second set. Continuing his aggressive game plan in the tie-break, Watanuki fought off a set point at 5/6 and won three straight points to seal the win. 

Two years ago, Watanuki lost his lone previous Lexus ATP Head2Head match against Tiafoe in three sets. Wayne Ferreira was the American's coach at that time; on Sunday, the South African was in Watanuki's corner. The new pair has enjoyed five victories so far in Indian Wells, with Bublik the only player to take a set off the Japanese talent.

After advancing past Top 20 opponents in consecutive matches, Watanuki will next meet Tallon Griekspoor for a place in the Indian Wells quarter-finals.

Arthur Fils fought off a match point late in the second set and ultimately turned around his Sunday showdown against Lorenzo Musetti at the BNP Paribas Open. After losing the first four games of the match and erasing that match point at 5-6 in set two, Fils claimed the lone break point of the deciding set to notch a 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory.

The 20-year-old Frenchman is through to the last 16 for the second straight time at an ATP Masters 1000, after reaching that stage at the Rolex Paris Masters last October. His upset of the 15th-seeded Musetti earned him his 13th win against opponents inside the Top 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings and his first such victory at the Masters 1000s.

Up two places to No. 19 this week in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Fils will face American Marcos Giron in his bid to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final.

Little separated Fils and Musetti by the measure of Infosys ATP Stats, with both men saving three break points, winning roughly 70 per cent of first-serve points and 53 per cent of second-serve points. Even their ace and double fault counts were identical: six and three, respectively.

The two-and-a-half-hour match was ultimately decided by Fils' finishing flurry. From 4-3, 30/30 in the final set, the Frenchman rattled off six straight points to clinch victory. The lone break point of the final set, in Musetti's 4-3 service game, was Fils' sixth of the match.