We have reached the quarterfinals in singles in both the men's and women's part of the 2025 BNP Paribas Open. One top seed has lost, but the top two remain on the WTA side. Plus, one young player is making waves and could disrupt the plans of Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.
As far as the points leaders, Sabalenka is going to remain on top even if she does not win the tournament. The currently suspended Jannik Sinner is easily still atop the ATP rankings. He will seemingly remain there until his return in early May.
But who is going to win in the quarters at Indian Wells. Here are some guesses.
Predicting the quarterfinal matches at the 2025 BNP Paribas Open
Zheng Qinwen versus Iga Swiatek
It is a bit unfair that two of the best players on the WTA tour are meeting in the quarterfinals instead of later. That only means this match should be a gem. Neither has lost a set at Indian Wells yet, but Swiatek has only lost six games total in three matches. She will win this in straight sets, too.
Mirra Andreeva versus Elina Svitolina
After dropping the first set to Jessica Pegula in the round of 16, Svitolina played some of her best tennis in years to take the last two sets 6-1 6-2. But Andreeva is starting to make an impact on the WTA and destroyed Elena Rybakina in the round of 16, 6-1 6-2. The young Russian will win in straight sets here.
Belinda Bencic versus Madsion Keys
Both players have had multiple three-set matches to reach the quarters, so this might come down to who is in better shape at this point in the tournament. Keys is off to a great start in 2025, but Bencic appears to be returning to form. The guess here is that Keys wins, but in three sets, of course.
Aryna Sabalenka versus Liudmila Samsanova
Sabalenka has had a relatively easy draw so far, and Samsanova blasted sixth-seed Jasmine Paolini 6-4 6-0 in the round of 16. She has the power to play with Sabalenka, and she will pull off the upset in the three sets.
Tallon Griekspoor versus Holger Rune
Griekspoor stunned top seed Alexander Zverev in the second round, but he was not happy with just winning that match. He has looked electric in the last two matches as well. Rune seems to be rounding into the kind of form that should make him a perennial top-10 player. Griekspoor, based on the momentum he carries into the match, gets the win in three sets.
Arthur Fils versus Daniil Medvedev
Fils is an ascending player, but Medvedev is playing brilliantly. He dispatched 10th-seed Tommy Paul 6-4 6-0 in a match that did not feel even that close. The Russian will get the best of the young Frenchman in straight sets here.
Ben Shelton versus Jack Draper
This one should be a must-watch tennis match. Shelton has a huge serve and is only 22 years old. Draper is the best Brit since Andy Murray and is only 23 years old. Draper has beaten Americans in back-to-back matches, including Taylor Fritz, but Shelton won't be his third-straight victory. The American wins in three sets.
Francisco Cerundolo versus Carlos Alcaraz
This should be Alcaraz's tournament to lose. He won the event last year, so there is clearly no confidence lost. Still, he needs to win again to not lose points. He should have no issues with Cerundolo, though, and should win in two easy sets.