German fourth seed Alexander Zverev had to go the distance on Sunday to reach the fourth round at Indian Wells, defeating Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-4.
Zverev did not earn a break point against his 30th-ranked opponent until the third set. He failed to convert his first two chances before finally taking one, breaking the American’s serve in the final game to seal the win.
Zverev dominated the opening tiebreak but lost the second set after Nakashima converted his fifth break chance for a 6-5 lead and then held to love. The German stayed patient through a tight battle on Stadium 2 and broke at the end to close it out.
“He has an incredible serve, and you don’t think about that,” Zverev said of Nakashima, who hit 17 aces to the German’s 15. “His placement on serve is probably the best in the world. What he’s lacking in power he’s definitely got in placement. I was not having any chances to break him for the first two and a half sets and the only chance I kind of had I used it in the end.”
Zverev added: “Definitely happy to get the win because that was a difficult match.” Nakashima, a 24-year-old Southern California native who grew up watching top players at this tournament, pushed the fourth seed hard with precise serving and steady baseline play.
The American had reached the third round by taking care of business earlier in the week and nearly forced a decider after leveling the match.
Zverev will next face either Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, the 15th seed, or American Frances Tiafoe for a spot in the quarterfinals. The winner of that matchup will determine who stands between Zverev and the last eight at the BNP Paribas Open.
World number two Jannik Sinner will headline the men’s action on Sunday against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov. The Italian dropped just two games in his opening match and continues his push for a first Indian Wells title.
In the final match of the day, American Tommy Paul, seeded 23rd, will take on 19-year-old Brazilian João Fonseca, ranked 35th. Fonseca saved two match points in his second-round win over Karen Khachanov, the 16th seed, while Paul opened with a straightforward 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Zverev’s win keeps him on track after a solid second-round result against Matteo Berrettini. The German has now advanced past the third round here and looks to build on his strong start to the season at one of the biggest hard-court events outside the slams.
The match highlighted Nakashima’s ability to stay competitive against higher-ranked players on home soil. His serve kept Zverev guessing for long stretches, forcing the German to grind through rallies and wait for the right moment. When that moment came late in the third set, Zverev took it without hesitation.
Fans at Indian Wells Tennis Garden saw a classic serve-heavy contest between two players who rely on placement and consistency rather than raw power alone. Zverev’s experience in these big moments showed as he stayed calm despite the early lack of break opportunities.
With the fourth round now in sight, attention turns to how Zverev handles the winner of Cobolli and Tiafoe. Both opponents bring different styles: Cobolli’s rising form on hard courts and Tiafoe’s athleticism and big-match energy.
Sunday’s schedule also features other intriguing ties. Sinner’s meeting with Shapovalov carries extra weight given their split head-to-head and the Canadian’s history of producing big results in North America. Shapovalov advanced past Tomas Martin Etcheverry in three sets and will look to test the world number two with his left-handed serve and aggressive play.
Paul against Fonseca promises excitement too. The young Brazilian has shown maturity beyond his years, coming back from match points in the previous round, while Paul brings consistency and experience as a seeded American on home turf.
Zverev’s path through the draw so far has been steady. After handling Berrettini comfortably, he faced a tougher test in Nakashima but found the answers when it mattered most. His ability to adjust and capitalise on that single late break point could prove key as the tournament moves into its later stages.
The BNP Paribas Open continues to deliver competitive tennis across the board. With top seeds still in contention and emerging players making noise, the men’s draw remains wide open heading into Monday’s fourth-round matches.
Zverev will hope his experience and serve return to their best levels against whichever opponent awaits. For now, he can reflect on a hard-fought victory that keeps his Indian Wells campaign alive.
