Djokovic exhausted and reversed, Alcaraz advances via tiebreak, Rybakina and Svitolina receive gifts, Pegula avenges Bencic

Three minutes a day, stay updated on global tennis news. Hello tennis fans, today is Thursday, March 12, 2026. Welcome to the News Midday Report provided by "Tennis Home" for your listening and viewing.

Early this morning Beijing time, the ATP1000 Indian Wells Masters continued with singles fourth-round matches. In a highlight match scheduled as the finale, five-time tournament champion Novak Djokovic and defending champion Jack Draper engaged in an intense offensive battle, each winning a set 6-4 in the first two sets, moving into a decisive third set. In the deciding set, after the high-intensity battle of the first two sets, Djokovic's physical stamina began to decline, and the British top player seized the opportunity to secure a break first. However, Djokovic did not give up, stubbornly breaking Draper's serve in the 10th game when Draper was serving for the match, dragging the contest into a tiebreak.

In the tiebreak, Draper played more proactively and aggressively, while Djokovic gritted his teeth and persisted, but his energy was nearly depleted. Ultimately, the British player completed the comeback with a mini-break score of 7-5, advancing to the quarterfinals and continuing his path to defend the title. Next, Draper will compete for a semifinal spot against the 11th seed, Russian star Daniil Medvedev, who comfortably defeated local rising star Mickelson 6-2, 6-4, maintaining a perfect 4-0 record against him and reaching the Masters quarterfinals for the 26th time in his career.

The top seed and two-time tournament champion Carlos Alcaraz faced a slight challenge in the second set but still defeated the 13th seed and Norwegian top player Casper Ruud 6-1, 7-6(2), reaching the quarterfinals at this event for the fifth consecutive year. This also marks Alcaraz's 15th consecutive win this season, continuing to刷新 his record for the start of the year. In the quarterfinals, he will meet another former tournament champion Cameron Norrie, who is in hot form, eliminating Australian qualifier土方凛辉 6-4, 6-2, reaching the quarterfinals at this event for the fourth time.

Let's turn our attention to the women's competition. In the WTA1000 Indian Wells singles fourth-round matches held early this morning Beijing time, the second seed and two-time tournament champion Iga Swiatek once again开启 her bagel-giving mode, sweeping past the 13th seed and Czech star Karolina Muchova 6-2, 6-0, securing her fifth consecutive win against her opponent, reaching the tournament quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive year, and marking the 27th time in her career she has advanced to a 1000-level event quarterfinal. Next, she will compete for a semifinal ticket against Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina, who received a withdrawal gift from Czech opponent Siniakova when the score was 6-1, 1-1.

In another highlight match, the third seed and Kazakh star Elena Rybakina, leading 6-4, 4-3, received a withdrawal gift from her British opponent Qatar, thereby advancing to the quarterfinals. Next, she will face the fifth seed and local star Jessica Pegula, who defeated the 12th seed and Swiss star Belinda Bencic 6-3, 7-6(5), securing her first win in their five encounters, leveling their head-to-head record to 1-4.

In a match concluded yesterday afternoon Beijing time, the 14th seed and Czech rising star Noskova was in explosive form,一度 winning nine consecutive games,最终 sweeping past Philippine top player Eala 6-2, 6-0, reaching the tournament quarterfinals for the first time in her career and marking her third entry into a 1000-level event quarterfinal. Next, she will compete for a semifinal spot against Australian qualifier player Gibson.

Finally, let's play a guessing and recognition game. The image below shows a player during a match. Without any hints, can you recognize who she is?

For the previous guessing game, fellow fans provided the correct answer. Indeed, the person in the image is former world number one and British star Andy Murray.

(Source: Tennis Home Author:特立独行)