De Minaur and Hurkacz Collide in Crucial BNP Paribas Open Showdown

INDIAN WELLS, California — Ninth-seed Alex de Minaur is set to face 21st-seed Hubert Hurkacz on March 10, 2025, in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open, a key tournament in the ATP 1000 series held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

De Minaur, currently ranked 10th in the world, enters the match with a strong 14-4 win-loss record this season. He secured a decisive victory against former World No. 7 David Goffin in the second round, winning 6-2, 6-2, a performance that provided a welcome rebound after struggling in his previous outing at the Dubai Open.

“It was important to regain my confidence after the Dubai Fed Cup,” de Minaur said after his victory. “I felt good on the court today.”

Hurkacz, ranked 22nd, has a record of 7-6 this year. He previously defeated World No. 93 Hugo Gaston in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3. His best effort so far this season came at the ABN Amro Open, where he reached the semifinals before losing to World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz.

“I’m feeling optimistic heading into this match, but it will be tough,” Hurkacz mentioned after his win. “De Minaur is a challenging opponent.”

Both players have met twice before in their careers, with the head-to-head record tied at 1-1. De Minaur emerged victorious in their first encounter in Atlanta in 2018, while Hurkacz won their matchup in Madrid the following year.

De Minaur has an 8-6 win-loss record at the BNP Paribas Open. Throughout his participation in the tournament, he has reached the last 16 three times but has yet to advance to the quarterfinals. A win in this match would mark his 50th match victory in ATP Masters 1000 events.

Conversely, Hurkacz holds an 11-5 record at Indian Wells and has also reached the last eight in his first two appearances in 2019 and 2021 but has fallen short of the quarterfinals since.

“Both players have unique strengths,” said ATP analyst Greg Butyn. “De Minaur’s speed and return game should provide a significant challenge for Hurkacz’s serve.”

The clash promises to be a tightly contested matchup, with bookmaker experts leaning towards de Minaur, given his recent form. The Australian is expected to prevail in a grueling three-set match with a predicted win probability of 61%. The match is scheduled to begin at 2:10 PM ET on March 10 and can be watched on the Tennis Channel in the USA.