Indian Wells, California – Carlos Alcaraz continued his dominant run in 2026, securing his 15th consecutive victory with a commanding performance against Casper Ruud at the BNP Paribas Open. Meanwhile, a grueling encounter saw Novak Djokovic eliminated by a resurgent Jack Draper, marking a surprising turn of events at the prestigious tournament.
Alcaraz dispatched Ruud 6-1, 7-6 in a match lasting just over 90 minutes, earning him a quarterfinal berth. He will face Cameron Norrie, a familiar opponent who has proven to be a challenging matchup for the young Spaniard. Jannik Sinner will also be in action today, taking on American Learner Tien, with the match scheduled to begin no earlier than 9 PM local time (Pacific Time) / 5 AM UTC on March 13th.
Norrie represents a significant test for Alcaraz. The Brit is one of only three players to have defeated the world number one three times in his career, with previous victories coming at the 2023 Rio Open (clay), the 2023 Cincinnati Masters (hard court), and the 2025 Paris Masters. Alcaraz will need to be at his best to avoid another upset.
Alcaraz’s form has been nothing short of spectacular. He didn’t drop a point on his first serve in the opening set against Ruud, and lost only four points on 23 first serves in the second. As Alcaraz himself noted after a previous win, opponents are bringing their absolute best against him, making each match a high-stakes affair. With 33 consecutive wins on hard courts, Alcaraz has equaled Novak Djokovic and Rod Laver, trailing only Pete Sampras (34) and Jimmy Connors (55) in the all-time rankings for consecutive hard-court victories.
Looking ahead, should Alcaraz advance to the semifinals, he will face either Daniil Medvedev – who completed a challenging journey from Dubai to California – or Jack Draper. Draper, the 2023 Indian Wells Masters champion, appears to be returning to peak form after recovering from a lengthy arm injury. The match between Djokovic and Draper was a marathon, lasting over two and a half hours. Djokovic fought back from a break down when Draper was serving for the match, but ultimately succumbed to the Brit’s relentless pressure, falling 4-6, 6-4, 7-6. A particularly memorable moment came in the first game of the third set, when Djokovic collapsed to the court, visibly exhausted.
The tournament has already delivered several compelling storylines, and with Alcaraz and Sinner still in contention, the remainder of the BNP Paribas Open promises to be filled with exciting tennis. Fans will be keenly watching to see if Alcaraz can maintain his winning streak and continue his ascent to the top of the men’s game.
The quarterfinals continue today, with all eyes on Alcaraz’s clash with Norrie. Sinner’s match against Tien will follow, offering another opportunity for the Italian to showcase his talent on the American hard courts. The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the Indian Wells Masters.
