Marcos Giron Eyes Masters Quarterfinal at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Marcos Giron, the 31-year-old tennis player from Thousand Oaks, is aiming for his first Masters quarterfinal at the BNP Paribas Open, bolstered by a strong start to the 2025 season. After winning his first title in 2024 and achieving a top 50 finish, Giron reflected on a ‘bittersweet’ season, marked by great moments but underperformance in major events.

Last year, Giron claimed the trophy on grass in Newport, saving a match point against Alex Michelsen with a decisive ace. Yet, he felt he had not fully capitalized on his opportunities at higher-stakes tournaments.

Giron’s path to success at Indian Wells has been impressive. After an early upset of World No. 5 Casper Ruud, he secured a spot in the fourth round by defeating Alexei Popyrin 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. The victory was made even sweeter by the presence of a passionate crowd in the stands, a setting Giron holds close to his heart.

“I have such a vivid memory of practice Court 1 here and watching Rafa [Rafael Nadal] absolutely annihilate the ball,” Giron recalled during a press conference. “It kind of opened my eyes, holy smokes, how big they were hitting.” His admiration for the sport was solidified by witnessing top players like Nadal and Stan Wawrinka during his formative years.

In 2019, Giron, then ranked 217th, used a qualifying wildcard at Indian Wells expertly, defeating several high-ranked players including Jeremy Chardy and Alex de Minaur to reach the third round. That experience helped him gain confidence in his abilities as a professional player. “At that point in time, I was kind of trying to convince myself that I had the level,” Giron expressed, reflecting on his early career challenges.

Having faced two hip surgeries, including one on Christmas Day, Giron acknowledged that his self-belief has grown significantly. “I do have more belief in my ability,” he noted. “There’s a little bit of peace that comes with that, which is nice.” Early in the 2025 season, he feels he is playing the best tennis of his career.

During his match against Popyrin, Giron displayed remarkable resilience by saving 14 of 15 break points. He faced a tough opponent, having previously won the title in Canada and reached multiple tournaments’ latter stages in 2024. The only break point he relinquished came at a pivotal moment during the third set; Popyrin’s backhand return went long, which further shifted momentum in Giron’s favor.

Giron made it clear how important family support is during this pivotal time in his career. “There’s a lot of family, there’s a lot of friends,” he said, reflecting on the support system he cherishes deeply. “This is not something I can do forever. So I know each kind of moment I’ve got to make the most of it.”

To secure a place in the quarterfinal round, Giron will need to overcome either Lorenzo Musetti or Arthur Fils. As he pushes towards his goals in this prestigious tournament, Giron remains focused on the challenge ahead.