Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz continued his march toward a rare Indian Wells ATP Masters three-peat with a clinical 6-2, 6-4 victory over in-form Canadian Denis Shapovalov on Monday.
The world No 3 from Spain, the highest ranked player left in the draw after the second-round exit of No 2 Alexander Zverev, leapt out of the gate, breaking Shapovalov in the opening game with a blistering forehand down the line as he roared to a 5-0 lead.
He saved three of the four break points he faced and converted four of his eight chances, sealing the match after an hour and 24 minutes with an overhead that Shapovalov could barely get his racquet to.
"I know he started the season really strong, showing really good tennis with the title in Dallas, playing good tennis in Acapulco, so I knew that I had to start the match really strong, really focused on my things, on the level," Alcaraz said.
He said he was dialed-in from the start, aiming to "play good rallies at the beginning just to get the good rhythm.
"Just really happy with the way that I started the match," he said.
The 21-year-old is trying to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to win three straight titles in the California desert.
He will face either Grigor Dimitrov or Gael Monfils for a place in the quarterfinals.