Indian Wells 2024: Carlos Alcaraz blasts past Fabian Marozsan to reach quarter-finals, Stefanos Tsitsipas crashes out

Carlos Alcaraz’s Indian Wells title defence remains on track after the second seed dispatched Fabian Marozsan with a convincing straight-sets win to reach the quarter-finals.

The world No. 2 needed 75 minutes to seal a 6-3 6-3 victory and set up a last-eight tie against Alexander Zverev or Alex de Minaur.

Alcaraz knew only too well that his Hungarian opponent was capable of producing an upset, having fallen to him in the Rome Masters third round last year.

But Tuesday’s result was rarely in doubt as the Spaniard put in a dominant performance, producing 24 winners and only five unforced errors to continue his bid for a first title of the 2024 season.

Marozsan had to navigate a tricky moment in the opening game, seeing off a break point for a good hold, but that proved to be the exception rather than the norm in a solid start from both players.

There were no more opportunities until game seven, when Alcaraz ramped up the pressure by winning three points on the bounce to set up a hat-trick of break points. Marozsan clung on with two winners but couldn’t see off the third as the second seed edged in front.

Alcaraz had his foot on the throat and pressed home his advantage with a solid hold to consolidate, before sealing a second break with a winner to clinch a 41-minute opening set.

Both players stayed strong behind serve at the start of the second but particularly Alcaraz, who lost just one point in his first three service games to take a 3-2 lead.

He then pounced in similar style to the opening set, firing a couple of winners to earn three break points and requiring three bites at the cherry before finding a way through with another winner for a 4-2 lead.

Marozsan responded strongly, setting up his first couple of break points of the match in the following game, but Alcaraz remained calm by saving them both, before sealing a big hold with an ace.

After a Marozsan hold, it was down to the two-time major winner to serve out the match, and he obliged with an emphatic love hold.

One man who will not be joining Alcaraz in the quarter-finals is Stefanos Tsitsipas, who crashed out with a 6-2 6-4 defeat to Jiri Lehecka.

The Greek, seeded 11th in the draw, was broken three times and failed to win a game on his opponent’s serve as the Czech impressed by landing 20 winners.

It was a landmark moment for world No. 32 Lehecka, who will compete in an ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final for the first time in his career against Ben Shelton or Jannik Sinner.