De Minaur Powers Past Hurkacz; Foe Awaits in Fourth Round

INDIAN WELLS, California — Alex de Minaur showcased his formidable skills on Monday, defeating Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-0 in just 75 minutes to secure a spot in the fourth round of the ATP Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells.

The ninth-seeded Australian was relentless in his pursuit of victory, converting all four break points and saving the single break point he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

This win marks De Minaur’s 50th ATP Masters 1000 victory and improves his record against Hurkacz to 2-1 in their head-to-head series. This matchup was their first since 2019.

“I felt really in control out there and made some good adjustments throughout the match,” de Minaur said in a post-match interview. “I’m just trying to focus on playing my game and executing it as best as I can.”

De Minaur aims to improve on his past performances in Indian Wells, where he has never advanced beyond the fourth round. Currently sitting at No. 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings, he will face a tough opponent next: an Argentine player who defeated John Isner 6-3, 6-4 to advance.

Former champion Taylor Fritz also faced his own challenges, overcoming Tabilo 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 after a slow start. The third seed battled through 43 unforced errors, finding his rhythm in an hour and 54 minutes. He praised his effort and adjustments in his post-match comments.

“I just tried to cut down on the mistakes; I needed to be more solid,” Fritz said. “I think I did that and found a way to turn it around.”

Fritz, who stands as the defending champion in Indian Wells, is set to face a left-handed opponent next and holds a 4-0 advantage in his previous matchups against Tabilo.

American Brandon Nakashima also moved forward in the tournament, eliminating Italian Salvatore Caruso with a score of 6-2, 6-4. This marks Nakashima’s first fourth-round appearance at the ATP Masters 1000 event, building on his recent semifinal performance in Acapulco.

De Minaur’s impressive start to the 2025 season includes a remarkable 15-1 record against players ranked outside the Top 20.