The quarterfinals begin on Wednesday in the desert.
Two of the United States’ best and most popular players are featured during Wednesday’s day session. US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe faces British No.1 Cam Norrie, while Roland Garros finalist Coco Gauff takes on Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka.
Later in the day, what will Daniil Medvedev have left after an epic match on Tuesday against Sascha Zverev, during which Medvedev injured his ankle? And the evening session sees last year’s runner-up, Maria Sakkari, play two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
Each day, this preview will analyze the two most intriguing matchups, while highlighting other notable matches on the schedule. Wednesday’s play gets underway at 11:00am local time.
Cameron Norrie (10) vs. Frances Tiafoe (14) – 11:00am on Stadium 1
Norrie is now an excellent 21-3 in 2023, and is on an eight-match win streak, coming off his title run a few weeks ago in Rio. He earned an impressive straight-set victory over Andrey Rublev on Tuesday. Cam is vying for his second consecutive Masters 1000 semifinal in North America, after achieving that feat last August in Cincinnati. And he was the champion in the fall edition of Indian Wells back in 2021.
Tiafoe is 13-3 on the year, after starting the season as a member of the winning United States team in the inaugural United Cup. Of course he electrified the New York crowd six months ago during his semifinal run at the US Open, especially during his upset of Rafael Nadal. Frances is looking to reach a Masters 1000 quarterfinal for the first time.
Their only previous meeting occurred two years ago in Delray Beach, where Norrie prevailed 6-4 in the third. And based on his form this season, as well as his prior success at this event, Cam should be favored to win again on Wednesday.
Coco Gauff (6) vs. Aryna Sabalenka (2) – Not Before 1:00pm on Stadium 1
Both players survived tough battles on Stadium 2 during Tuesday afternoon. Gauff outlasted Rebecca Peterson 6-4 in the third, while Sabalenka defeated Barbora Krejcikova 6-4 in the third.
Sabalenka is now 15-1 this season, with the only loss coming to Krejcikova a few weeks ago in Dubai. Gauff is 14-3, and won a title in Auckland to start the year.
Coco is 3-1 against Aryna, and 2-1 on hard courts. Most recently, Gauff survived a third-set tiebreak against Sabalenka last summer in Canada, amid extremely windy conditions. But with the level of confidence Aryna is currently playing with after capturing her first Major singles title, and how well she’s been serving, I like Sabalenka to reach the semifinals of Indian Wells for the first time.
Other Notable Matches on Wednesday:
Daniil Medvedev (5) vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (23) – Medvedev turned his ankle during an over three-hour match on Tuesday against Zverev, yet extended his win streak to 17. Davidovich Fokina upset another Russian, Karen Khachanov, on Sunday. Daniil has taken both of their previous meetings, including one just a few weeks ago in Rotterdam.
Maria Sakkari (7) vs. Petra Kvitova (15) – Kvitova scarcely survived on Tuesday evening, saving four match points to eventually defeat Jessica Pegula 13-11 in the third-set tiebreak. Sakkari eliminated another big-serving Czech, Karolina Pliskova, earlier in the day. Sakkari is 4-3 against Kvitova, and easily beat her at this tournament last year 6-3, 6-0.
Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov vs. Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden – Shapovalov and Bopanna are former frequent doubles partners who now find themselves on opposite sides of the net. This is Felix and Denis’ first tour event as a team in over three years, while Bopanna and Ebden are a new partnership this season, and were runners-up and champions at their last two events.
Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini vs. John Isner and Jack Sock – The Italians won a title together on clay last month in South American. The Americans are the defending champions, but haven’t teamed since winning this title a year ago.
Wednesday’s full Order of Play is here.
