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TIE-BREAKFAST - 03/10 Indian Wells

Tie-BreakfastMar 10Mar 10, 20266 min

Good morning and welcome back to TIE-Breakfast.

Ace Cream's morning briefing that tells you everything you need to know before starting your day.

Today is Tuesday, March 10, in Indian Wells it's 11:30 PM and it's 15 degrees. Alright, let's go.

Today's breakfast menu

🇪🇸 Alcaraz comes back against Rinderknech and stays unbeaten in 2026
🇷🇸 Djokovic battles past Kovacevic to reach the fourth round for the first time in nine years
🇵🇱 Swiatek reclaims Indian Wells with a masterclass against Sakkari
🇷🇺 Andreeva exits amid boos and broken rackets, Siniakova advances
🇺🇸 Michelsen eliminates Fritz in an all-American clash
🎾 Today's schedule: Sinner-Fonseca, Sabalenka-Osaka and much more

WHAT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT:

🇪🇸 Alcaraz Comes Back Against Rinderknech And Stays Unbeaten

Carlos Alcaraz beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-2 in the third round, extending his winning streak to fourteen consecutive victories to start the season. After dropping the first set in a tie-break, the Spaniard raised his level progressively before closing out the third set without leaving any doubt.

What stands out about this match, more than the result itself, is Alcaraz's ability to shift gears within the same match. Losing a closely contested tie-break and then dominating the next two sets tells the story of a player who knows how to wait for the right moment to accelerate, without rushing to solve everything at once. Casper Ruud awaits in the fourth round, a different test in terms of rhythm and intensity.

🇷🇸 Djokovic Reaches The Indian Wells Fourth Round For The First Time In Nine Years

Novak Djokovic defeated Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in a match that went through very different phases. The American fired sixteen aces and dominated the second set, before Djokovic found the solidity he needed in the third.

Djokovic hadn't reached the fourth round at Indian Wells since 2017, a stat that alone tells how complicated this tournament has been for him in recent years. At thirty-eight, he has become the second-oldest player to reach the fourth round of a Masters 1000 since the series began in 1990, behind only Ivo Karlovic. Up next is the defending champion Jack Draper, who dispatched Cerundolo 6-1, 7-5 and has faced him only once in his career, at Wimbledon 2021.

🇵🇱 Swiatek Gets Her Revenge On Sakkari

Iga Swiatek beat Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-2, avenging her defeat in Doha in February and moving ahead 5-4 in their head-to-head. She converted five breaks and saved six of eight break points faced, maintaining near-constant control of the rallies.

What's striking is the ease with which Swiatek moves through this tournament: sixth consecutive time in the fourth round, a 24-3 record at Indian Wells, the first woman to reach the Round of 16 for six consecutive years since Radwanska and Wozniacki in the 2008-2014 period. More than the win itself, the feeling is that Swiatek plays at Indian Wells with a familiarity that allows her to perform at a different level compared to other tournaments. Karolina Muchova awaits in the fourth round.

🇷🇺 Andreeva Out Amid Boos And Broken Rackets: Title Defense Ends Badly

Defending champion Mirra Andreeva was eliminated by Katerina Siniakova 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 in a match marred by an emotional meltdown in the second and third sets. Andreeva was up 6-4, 4-3 with three break points at her disposal, before completely losing the thread of the match.

The scene of her exit from the court, amid boos from the crowd and behavior that Andreeva herself acknowledged was excessive, tells the story of an eighteen-year-old player still learning to handle the weight of expectations. Siniakova, with her doubles experience and ability to find different solutions at the net, capitalized on every opening. Sometimes matches are decided less by who plays better and more by who manages to stay in the moment longer.

🇺🇸 Michelsen Eliminates Fritz In All-American Clash

Alex Michelsen beat the seventh seed Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-6(6) in one hour and thirty-nine minutes, arguably the most significant result of his career to date. Fritz struggled to find his game after a first set in which he never managed to take control of the rallies.

For American men's tennis, the presence of Michelsen and Learner Tien in the fourth round of a Masters 1000, alongside the elimination of Fritz and Shelton, suggests a generational shift taking concrete shape, match after match.

WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY:

Sinner vs Fonseca (evening session, not before 7:00 PM local / 3:00 AM CET) - The most anticipated match of the day. Fonseca said he'll have fun and try to win. His season reads 7-1 against top-30 players since September, but beating Tommy Paul is one thing; handling Sinner's pace for two hours is another.
Sabalenka vs Osaka (11:00 AM local / 7:00 PM CET) - They meet again after nearly eight years since their last head-to-head, at the 2018 US Open. Osaka arrives in confidence after a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 win over Osorio. Sabalenka herself said it will be "a fashion show at first, then an incredible match".
Zverev vs Tiafoe - An important test for Zverev, who has cruised through the tournament so far. Tiafoe on these courts can be a tricky opponent.
Paolini vs Gibson - Jasmine faces the twenty-one-year-old Australian qualifier, who knocked out Alexandrova and Tauson along the way. An opponent not to be underestimated.
Davidovich Fokina vs Tien - Tien continues his dream run after eliminating Shelton. Davidovich beat Mensik 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
Fils vs Auger-Aliassime - Two young players looking for confirmation in the fourth round of a Masters 1000.
Eala vs Noskova - The twenty-year-old Filipino, through after Gauff's retirement, looks for another big result.
Anisimova vs Mboko - Anisimova arrives after a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of Raducanu. Mboko eliminated Kalinskaya.