Indian Wells 2025 Day 3 Recap

Day three at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open saw the top seeds enter the fray, and we were treated to some highly interesting matches.

The first was top seed Alexander Zverev’s poor run of form, which continued as he lost to Tallon Griekspoor in three sets.

Fourth seed Casper Ruud was the second highest profile victim of the day, succumbing to local guy Marcos Giron, also in three sets.

Other seeds to fall were Tomas Machac (19), who retired against Yosuke Watanuki, and Jiri Lehecka (21), who lost to 2021 champion Cameron Norrie.

Seeded winners of the day included Daniil Medvedev, who claimed that this year’s surface is the slowest court he’s ever played on ????

While Tsitsipas, Paul, Rune, Musetti, Tiafoe, Humbert, Fils, Popyrin Berrettini, Perricard and Michelsen all stuck to the script to move into the third round.

Day Three 2025 BNP Paribas Open Round of 64 Results

Griekspoor Takes Out Zverev

Sascha Zverev entered Indian Wells as the number one seed, but after a subpar Golden Swing in South America, his poor form continued, losing to Tallon Griekspoor in a three-hour battle.

Griekspoor is far from a leisurely opening match (he just made the semi-finals in Dubai), and he came through 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4) to record his second win against the German in eight matches.

Zverev started the match well, and he looked poised for victory after rallying from 2-5 down to 6-5 in the second set, but he failed to serve it out.

Griekspoor capitalised on the momentum shift, forcing a tie-break where Zverev’s uncharacteristic errors allowed him to level the match.

Like Zverev in set two, the Dutchman found himself on the brink of victory at 6-5 in the third but squandered five match points before finally sealing the win on his sixth opportunity in the deciding tie-break to record his first career top 5 win.

It’s another setback for Sascha, and his forehand looks even ropier than usual since Australia. He either plays it timidly as a half-court ball or goes for it, and it flies out. He recently changed rackets from the Gravity Pro to the Tour, which has a thicker beam. Is that playing a role?

My own “conspiracy theory” is that as a student of the sport, Zverev isn’t a big fan of being number 1 in the world when you have not won a Grand Slam. So he’s not losing on purpose; it’s subconsciously there.

It was such a mental thing. I lost to him five times last year and had absolute heartbreak at Roland Garros where I was up a double break in the fifth. played so many battles against him and had chances but they all went his way. I am incredibly proud of myself from this performance and to get it over the line. Griekspoor on his win over Zverev.

Giron Routs Ruud

Marcos Giron pulled off the biggest win of his career as he dispatched Casper Ruud 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-2 to reach the third round at Indian Wells for the second time.

Giron is a UCLA graduate, so he knows the conditions well, and Ruud has never really gelled that well in Indian Wells. He’s also been struggling with some stomach issues since Acapulco and looked to be out of gas in the third.

The American saved four set points at 4-5 in the opening set before edging the tie-break and later dominated behind his serve in the decider, moving to a 5-0 lead and winning 80% of his first-serve points (12/15).

That was an amazing win. It will be one I look back on with amazing memories. To do it here at my favourite tournament is special. It was the tournament I came to when I was younger and it was an amazing atmosphere. Giron on hnis win.

Other Matches of Note

Daniil Medvedev, leggings and all came through his opener on a chilly Friday night, rolling past China’s Bu Yunchaokete 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round.

Stefanos Tsitsipas extended his winning streak to six with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Thiago Seyboth Wild. Next is a blockbuster showdown with Matteo Berrettini, whom Tsitsipas defeated last week en route to the Dubai title.

No. 12 seed Holger Rune cruised past Corentin Moutet 6-2, 6-4. He now faces 18th seed Ugo Humbert, with a strong 10-3 record in 2025, including a title in Marseille.

The craziest match regarding the scoreline was between Damir Dzhumur and Frances Tiafoe. Dzhumur served for the first set at 5-4, twice for the second set at 5-1 and 5-3. and then had 4 set points in the second set’s tiebreak. 3 of them from 6-3 up. Yet, he lost 6-7, 6-7 to Frances Tiafoe. Brutal.

Highlights

Indian Wells 2025 Day 4 Round of 64 Matches