Alcaraz Powers into Indian Wells Quarter-finals; Draper Upsets Djokovic

11 March 2026, US, Indian Wells: Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz celebrates defeating Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles round of 16 match at the BNP Paribas Open held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells. Photo: Charles Baus/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
11 March 2026, US, Indian Wells: Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz celebrates defeating Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles round of 16 match at the BNP Paribas Open held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells. Photo: Charles Baus/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Alcaraz Powers into Indian Wells Quarter-finals; Draper Upsets Djokovic

11 March 2026, US, Indian Wells: Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz celebrates defeating Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles round of 16 match at the BNP Paribas Open held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells. Photo: Charles Baus/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
11 March 2026, US, Indian Wells: Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz celebrates defeating Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles round of 16 match at the BNP Paribas Open held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells. Photo: Charles Baus/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

World number one Carlos Alcaraz continued his dominant run at Indian Wells, beating Norway's Casper Ruud 6-1 7-6(2), while Jack Draper upset world number three Novak Djokovic 4-6 6-4 7-6(5) on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals in the California desert.

Alcaraz relied on a near-flawless service game to seize control of the match, racing through the opening set in just 37 minutes after breaking Ruud's serve three times.

Thirteenth-seeded Ruud raised his level in the second set and forced a tiebreak, hoping to push the match to a decider, but Alcaraz kept his foot on the gas to seal his 15th consecutive victory of the season to reach the quarter-finals for a fifth straight year.

"The conditions were difficult to be honest. Today the ball was tough to control but we both played great," two-time champion Alcaraz said in his on-court interview.

"My first set was incredible I'm really happy of playing that kind of level, really happy to get through and hopefully I'll play this level on the next round."

Alcaraz will next face 2021 champion Cameron Norrie, ⁠who earlier beat ⁠Australia's Rinky Hijikata 6-4 6-2, with the Spaniard looking to avenge a defeat to the Briton at last year's Paris Masters.

Defending champion Draper claimed one of the biggest wins of his career by beating Djokovic in a deciding-set tie-break after two hours and 35 minutes.

Draper, who trailed after dropping the opener 6–4, stormed into the second set by breaking Djokovic early and surviving multiple break points before sealing it with aggressive baseline play.

Djokovic won a stunning 26-shot rally at 30-all in the opening game of the decider, but Draper surged to leads of 3-1 and 5-3 before the 38-year-old Serb battled back to ⁠5-5 and then broke the Briton as he first served for the match.

The 24-year-old kept his composure, forced the tie-break and dominated it to close out a statement victory.

"I still don't feel like I'm playing anywhere near the way I want to play," Draper said in an on-court interview, according to Reuters.

"I came out here tonight and I won that match through determination and trying to problem-solve and do my best and have a great attitude.

"I'm proud of the way I regrouped. I haven't been playing on the tour (in) a long time, so to put away guys who are top players, it's something that comes with confidence."

Draper will next face Russian 11th seed Daniil Medvedev, who beat Alex Michelsen 6-2 6-4 in a commanding performance, needing just one hour and 27 minutes to dismantle the American and maintain his strong form after winning last month's Dubai Open.

World number two Iga Swiatek delivered a dominant 6-2 6-0 victory over Czech 13th seed Karolina Muchova, ⁠reeling off 10 consecutive games ⁠to secure her fifth win over the Czech, whom she also beat at the same stage of the tournament last year.

"I felt I was playing better and better, just great," Swiatek said.

"I love playing here ... It's a great place to play tennis, hopefully I can keep doing that until the end."

Swiatek, chasing a third Indian Wells title, will face ninth seed Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals after the Ukrainian advanced when Katerina Siniakova retired injured.

American fifth seed Jessica Pegula overcame Belinda Bencic 6-3 7-6(5) to secure her first victory in five meetings between the pair.

Pegula, coming off a dramatic comeback win over Jelena Ostapenko, took control as she clinched the opening set - her first ever against the Swiss - before edging a tightly contested tiebreak to close out the match.

Third seed Elena Rybakina advanced to the quarter-finals after Sonay Kartal retired while trailing 6-4 4-3.

Rybakina, the 2023 champion, controlled most of the match, surging to a double-break lead in the opening set and steadying after Kartal took multiple medical timeouts.

Although the Briton briefly recovered to level the second set at 3-3, Rybakina broke in the seventh game before Kartal stopped.

Rybakina next faces Pegula, a rematch of their Australian Open semifinal.



Pegula Downs Jovic to Reach WTA Charleston Final

Jessica Pegula of the United States stretches for s ball while playing Iva Jovic of the United States during the Semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
Jessica Pegula of the United States stretches for s ball while playing Iva Jovic of the United States during the Semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Pegula Downs Jovic to Reach WTA Charleston Final

Jessica Pegula of the United States stretches for s ball while playing Iva Jovic of the United States during the Semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
Jessica Pegula of the United States stretches for s ball while playing Iva Jovic of the United States during the Semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)

Defending champion Jessica Pegula advanced to the final of the WTA Charleston Open clay-court tournament on Saturday, defeating fourth seed Iva Jovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

American top seed Pegula, who has been taken to three sets in each of her four matches in Charleston this week, finally wrapped up victory in 2hr 35min when Jovic pulled a forehand return wide.

The 32-year-old from New York will face Yuliia Starodubtseva in Sunday's final after the unseeded Ukrainian upset fifth seed Madison Keys in the other semi-final.

World number 89 Starodubtseva, who was initially scheduled to go through qualifying in Charleston before being granted a place in the main draw after a withdrawal, defeated Keys 6-1, 6-4.

World number five Pegula will be chasing her second title of the season on Sunday after her victory in Dubai in February.

The American admitted after Saturday's latest three-setter that she has become used to taking the scenic route as she has advanced through the rounds in Charleston.

"When I won the first set today I thought 'Oh man, I have such a great chance to not go to three'. I was like 'Maybe I'll get it done in two today'," Pegula told the Tennis Channel.

"I'd love some straight sets victories -- that would be nice. But a win's a win. If I'm gonna win every match for the rest of my life, but it's three sets, I'll take the three sets."

While Pegula will be targeting her second title of the year on Sunday, Starodubtseva will be aiming for the first of her career.

The 26-year-old Ukrainian punished Keys's fragile service game to race through the first set in just 31 minutes, breaking the American four times to win 6-1, before clinching victory with another service break in the 10th game of the second set.

"I did not expect to break her that many times today," Starodubtseva said. "I feel like I did quite well at neutralizing her power and just hitting a heavy ball back.

"I can't really described my feelings right now. I may not have expected this outcome in this tournament but hard work pays off."


Arsenal’s Arteta Rues Missed Opportunity After FA Cup Exit

Soccer Football - FA Cup - Quarter-Final - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 4, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - FA Cup - Quarter-Final - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 4, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts. (Reuters)
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Arsenal’s Arteta Rues Missed Opportunity After FA Cup Exit

Soccer Football - FA Cup - Quarter-Final - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 4, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - FA Cup - Quarter-Final - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 4, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts. (Reuters)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta ‌could not hide his disappointment after his side were dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Southampton on Saturday, suggesting the team’s poor defending was the major contributing factor.

The 2-1 quarter-final defeat follows on from the League Cup final loss to Manchester City last time out as Arsenal’s "quadruple" hopes this season have suddenly been downgraded to a "double" as they now chase Premier League and Champions League honors.

"The result and especially the way we conceded the two goals (were disappointing)," Arteta told the BBC. "We had so much dominance in and ‌around the ‌box. We conceded the first goal in a ‌very ⁠unusual way for ⁠us, the second one from direct play as well.

"We had two massive chances and needed to capitalize on that. If you make the defending errors we made today, it's very difficult to be in the semi-final."

Arsenal were without several first team regulars for a match played in driving wind and rain, but Arteta refused to blame ⁠either of those factors and was not surprised ‌by the test Southampton gave them.

"They ‌are a very good side on a very good run and you have ‌to congratulate them," he said. "You have to adapt to the ‌wind, the injuries. You have to adapt to difficult situations in the season. Now we have to show what we are made of.

"That (Arsenal) team had very good moments. They should have capitalized and be going to Wembley, ‌and we haven't done it."

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert is now unbeaten in 15 matches in all ⁠competitions with ⁠the south coast club, but is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

"We put on a good shift today. It was a challenge, we knew it was going to be a tough game. The second half always has the chance to shift and we reacted quite well," he said.

"You always need to find a balance, it's not going direct for the sake of going direct. You need spells with shorter solutions and we had a good mix today.

"Belief is always there, it's not been a problem. The reality is that the game is close. It's going to be nice to celebrate today but we open up Wrexham and Championship football tomorrow."


Inter Boss Chivu Defends Bastoni After Italy Red Card and Media Scrutiny

Italy's defender #21 Alessandro Bastoni (C, bottom) receives a red card from French referee Clement Turpin during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy at the Bilino-Polje stadium in Zenica on March 31, 2026. (AFP)
Italy's defender #21 Alessandro Bastoni (C, bottom) receives a red card from French referee Clement Turpin during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy at the Bilino-Polje stadium in Zenica on March 31, 2026. (AFP)
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Inter Boss Chivu Defends Bastoni After Italy Red Card and Media Scrutiny

Italy's defender #21 Alessandro Bastoni (C, bottom) receives a red card from French referee Clement Turpin during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy at the Bilino-Polje stadium in Zenica on March 31, 2026. (AFP)
Italy's defender #21 Alessandro Bastoni (C, bottom) receives a red card from French referee Clement Turpin during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy at the Bilino-Polje stadium in Zenica on March 31, 2026. (AFP)

Inter Milan boss Cristian Chivu came to the defense of under-fire Alessandro Bastoni on Saturday, praising his center-back's courage and sense of responsibility after Italy's World Cup playoff loss and criticizing the media scrutiny around the club.

Bastoni had already been a target for Italian media and opposition fans since Inter's Valentine's Day win over Juventus, after being accused of diving to get Pierre Kalulu sent off and then celebrating the red card.

The international break did little to ease the pressure. His rash last-man foul in the first half left Italy with 10 men, and they went on to lose the World Cup playoff in ‌Bosnia on penalties.

"In ‌football, what matters is the respect of your teammates. What ‌matters ⁠is your work, ⁠and who you are as a person," Chivu told reporters ahead of Sunday's home game with AS Roma.

"I'm sure he's disappointed about what happened, but at the same time, grateful for the support he received from his national teammates and his teammates here at the club.

"Because he showed his face. Because in a moment of difficulty, he stepped forward with what he had, to represent his country and try to achieve the dream of ⁠all Italians."

Bastoni not only needed to put aside the negative ‌attention, but also missed Inter's most recent game through ‌injury before joining up with Italy.

"Despite the difficulties, despite his physical condition at that moment, ‌he made himself available, and that means a lot to me," Chivu said.

"I understand ‌what it means to spend 10 days on crutches and then step up and take responsibility in such an important match."

Chivu pushed back when asked about the media storm that followed the Juventus game, redirecting the question to the reporters over what he feels are double standards ‌when it comes to Inter.

"I haven't seen the same reaction since, but when it's Inter, when someone claims Inter are favored, ⁠then it becomes ⁠a public flogging," Chivu said.

"But when there are episodes that go against Inter, suddenly no one says anything. That's a question I should be asking you, because you are the ones who should answer it."

PRAISE, NOT BLAME

Inter had five players involved in Italy's loss, and 20-year-old forward Pio Esposito missed the first spot kick in the shootout.

"What mattered to me, and I asked him when I saw him, was whether he had requested to take the penalty," Chivu said.

"His answer was yes, and for me that's enough.

"Taking responsibility at such a young age, knowing full well the importance of the match, is enough for me. Penalties can be missed, and he will miss many in his career. What matters is that he had the courage to step up."

Inter are top of the standings, six points ahead of AC Milan, who are away to third-placed Napoli on Monday.