Indian Wells 2025 Quarter Final Recap - Perfect Tennis

The BNP Paribas Open semifinals are set, and the final four delivered some high-quality performances in Thursday’s quarter-finals.

Carlos Alcaraz overcame his toughest test yet, rallying past Francisco Cerúndolo to keep his three-peat hopes alive.

Daniil Medvedev battled through swirling winds and a determined Arthur Fils to return to the final four, while Holger Rune continued his resurgence with a gritty comeback against Tallon Griekspoor.

Jack Draper, meanwhile, took another big step towards the top 10 in the rankings, edging Ben Shelton to make his first Masters 1000 semifinal.

Recaps, match stats and highlights are below.

Day Nine 2025 BNP Paribas Open Quarter Final Results

Alcaraz Cracks Cerundolo

Carlos Alcaraz faced his stiffest test of Indian Wells so far on Thursday after trailing Francisco Cerundolo 1-4 in the second set.

However, the Spaniard is highly capable of going on a complete tear-up, and he reeled off three straight games to level before taking control in the tie-break, closing out a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6(4) victory to keep his title defence firmly alive and kicking.

Cerundolo usually plays better in the second leg of the Sunshine Double, but he’s delivered in Indian Wells this week, and I thought he played a pretty solid match.

Alcaraz’s variety was a bit too much for him in the first set, but in the second, the Argentine started getting on top and forcing Carlos to play reactive tennis as he forged his lead. His forehand, in particular, doing a lot of damage.

However, Carlos upped his level and got back into more of an attacking flow, which allowed him to get back level, and from there, he was in control.

Today was about surviving. Trying to get a good rhythm, a good pace to the match, trying to take the opportunities that he brought to me. I’m proud of everything I’ve done today. Tennis is about getting the win. It doesn’t matter how you do it. You’re not thinking about playing great tennis every match, every day. These kind of matches, you have to get through with the level that you have that day. It’s about good behaviour, mental strength, just to stay there all the time, trying to get a good rhythm. I didn’t hit the ball as clear as yesterday, for example, but I just did what I had to, and that’s what tennis is about. Alcaraz on his win.

Match Stats

Francisco Cerundolo
Carlos Alcaraz

Aces
1
5

Double Faults
4
5

1st Serve Percentage
78% (57/73)
66% (48/73)

1st Serve Points Won
67% (38/57)
75% (36/48)

2nd Serve Points Won
31% (5/16)
60% (15/25)

Break Points Saved
33% (1/3)
89% (8/9)

1st Return Points Won
25% (12/48)
33% (19/57)

2nd Return Points Won
40% (10/25)
69% (11/16)

Break Points Converted
11% (1/9)
67% (2/3)

Winners
17
23

Unforced Errors
33
27

Net Points Won
78% (7/9)
78% (18/23)

Service Points Won
59% (43/73)
70% (51/73)

Return Points Won
30% (22/73)
41% (30/73)

Total Points Won
45% (65/146)
55% (81/146)

Service Games Won
80% (8/10)
91% (10/11)

Return Games Won
9% (1/11)
20% (2/10)

Total Games Won
43% (9/21)
57% (12/21)

Medvedev Fights Off Fils

The best match of the last sixteen, perhaps even the tournament so far, saw Daniil Medvedev battle through a tough challenge from Arthur Fils, rallying from 2-4 down in the third set to secure a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(7) victory and advance to the BNP Paribas Open semifinals for the third straight year.

The fifth seed has to overcome swirling winds and an aggressive opponent to stay in contention for his first title of 2025 as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing last twelve months.

Fils, now up to 18th in the world, used his heavy topspin forehand and opted for an attacking style, moving into the net at any possible opportunity, and it paid off, as he won 61% (22/36) points up there.

However, in his typical style, Medvedev soaked it up from the baseline and used his trademark improvisation skills to find a way through.

He came up with a funky-looking forehand on the run on match point, which surprised Fils, and he could only block the volley beyond the baseline.

Check his celebration on match point, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that happy. It was almost as exuberant as some of Fil’s celebrations after winning points or games. Top trolling 😁

I lost a lot of tight matches this year where I could have won, should have won maybe. I have lost a lot of tight matches where it goes a little bit 50-50 and the more it goes like that, the more you can lose confidence in the tight moments. I was happy I was able to get over the line as he saved some match points and had a break lead in the third. I am just happy to win. The match was very tough due to the wind. It was tough to play tactically, technically. Whoever gets a bit more of a swirl of wind, they can frame it and it is a bit of luck. I knew that he had a break in the third and I knew I could break back and that is what I managed to do. He can play well. He is a top player. Maybe a bit up and down still as he is a young player. But when he is in the quarters or semis he is playing well. Medvedev on his win.

Match Stats

Arthur Fils
Daniil Medvedev

Aces
2
5

Double Faults
7
3

1st Serve Percentage
58% (61/106)
61% (54/88)

1st Serve Points Won
74% (45/61)
63% (34/54)

2nd Serve Points Won
47% (21/45)
74% (25/34)

Break Points Saved
73% (8/11)
50% (4/8)

1st Return Points Won
37% (20/54)
26% (16/61)

2nd Return Points Won
26% (16/61)
53% (24/45)

Break Points Converted
50% (4/8)
27% (3/11)

Winners
26
17

Unforced Errors
52
30

Net Points Won
61% (22/36)
100% (3/3)

Service Points Won
62% (66/106)
67% (59/88)

Return Points Won
33% (29/88)
51% (99/194)

Total Points Won
49% (95/194)
38% (40/106)

Service Games Won
80% (12/15)
73% (11/15)

Return Games Won
27% (4/15)
53% (16/30)

Total Games Won
20% (3/15)
47% (14/30)

Draper Silences Shelton

It’s not often you get two big-hitting lefties going H2H in the quarters of a Masters 1000, but we got that on Wednesday as Jack Draper came through Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-5 to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal.

The 23-year-old Brit has thrived in the desert conditions, and he was the stronger player in the opening set as he took thanks to a sole break of serve without facing any difficulty on his serve.

Shelton used his fast-paced, athletic game to hit back in the second to forge a 3-0 lead, but Draper battled back as Shelton’s consistency wained, highlighted by two critical double faults at 5-5 in the second set, including on break point.

I didn’t know what to expect today, honestly. I’d hit with Ben maybe once or twice, but very short practices. I’ve obviously watched a lot of him, he’s an incredible showman [with] weapons… can hit a winner from anywhere. The serve’s obviously huge. He’s a great competitor and he’s been really consistent. I knew coming out here facing him on on this court in front of the Americans was was going to be really difficult today and it was. Huge respect to him, huge credit him. He’s going to keep on winning, keep on having an amazing career, so I wish him all the best Draper on his win.

Match Stats

Ben Shelton
Jack Draper

Aces
3
3

Double Faults
5
1

1st Serve Percentage
56% (42/75)
72% (49/68)

1st Serve Points Won
67% (28/42)
67% (33/49)

2nd Serve Points Won
48% (16/33)
74% (14/19)

Break Points Saved
40% (2/5)
0% (0/1)

1st Return Points Won
33% (16/49)
33% (14/42)

2nd Return Points Won
26% (5/19)
52% (17/33)

Break Points Converted
100% (1/1)
60% (3/5)

Winners
27
20

Unforced Errors
33
9

Net Points Won
63% (17/27)
73% (11/15)

Service Points Won
59% (44/75)
69% (47/68)

Return Points Won
31% (21/68)
41% (31/75)

Total Points Won
45% (65/143)
55% (78/143)

Service Games Won
73% (8/11)
91% (10/11)

Return Games Won
9% (1/11)
27% (3/11)

Total Games Won
41% (9/22)
59% (13/22)

Rune Battles Past Griekspoor

Holger Rune is on a resurgent run of form at the BNP Paribas Open, rallying past Tallon Griekspoor 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 on Thursday to reach his first semifinal of 2025.

Rune, who once had a formidable record at the M1000 level, has struggled for form over the last year or so but has now found his groove in Indian Wells.

His return has been particularly impressive this week, and he broke Griekspoor, who’s got an excellent serve, six times and dominated the final two sets.

It was tough mentally to play against him. It rained this morning so we didn’t get to warm up too much and he started to find his timing. He was playing really well in the first set. I didn’t have the same feeling as I had against Stef but I had to find a way and I changed my tactics during the match and that made it more difficult for him. I am happy I could stay composed. Rune on his win over Griekspoor.