Indian Wells
Michelsen upsets former champ Fritz in Indian Wells
Hijikata stuns Bublik, Norrie beats De Minaur
March 10, 2026
ATP Tour
Alex Michelsen in motion on the BNP Paribas Open.
By ATP Staff
Alex Michelsen earned the largest win of his profession Monday when he defeated No. 7 in the PIF ATP Rankings Taylor Fritz, 6-4, 7-6(6) in the third spherical on the BNP Paribas Open.
“I played higher than my average level,” Michelsen mentioned after defeating the 2022 champion. “That’s what you have to do to beat a guy like him.”
Michelsen produced a formidable efficiency on serve to enhance to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence with Fritz. The American crucially saved seven of the eight break factors he confronted, in response to Infosys ATP Stats, and received 73 per cent (40/55) of his first-serve factors. Despite dropping serve whereas serving for the match, Michelsen held agency in the tie-break, the place he saved a set level at 5/6 earlier than sealing the upset in one hour and 39 minutes.
“I kind of went back to muscle memory at that point,” Michelsen mentioned, “Also got a little lucky twice there.”
With his victory over Fritz, the Michelsen notched his first Top 10 win since defeating No. 10 Lorenzo Musetti en path to the quarter-finals on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Toronto in 2025. The 21-year-old will face two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev or Sebastian Baez in the fourth spherical.
In different motion, Rinky Hijikata rallied to upset tenth seed Alexander Bublik 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-3 and superior to the fourth spherical of an ATP Masters 1000 occasion for the primary time. With the victory, the Australian qualifier earned his maiden Top 10 win. The 25-year-old will subsequent face 2021 champion Cameron Norrie.
Watch Hijikata vs. Bublik highlights:
Norrie additionally earned an upset win on Monday when he beat sixth seed Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4. The Briton saved six of the seven break factors he confronted en path to a one-hour, 39-minute win towards the Australian and improved to 3-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence.
