Alex de Minaur destroys in-form Alexander Bublik to reach Indian Wells fourth round

Kieran Francis

Alex de Minaur destroys in-form Alexander Bublik to reach Indian Wells fourth round image

Alex de Minaur continued his extraordinary 2024 form with a thrashing of 20th seed Alexander Bublik in the third round at the BNP Paribas Open as Indian Wells.

The Australian had a battle on his hands in the first set before destroying the Kazakh in the second set with a score of 7-5 6-0 in one hour, 38 minutes.

De Minaur will now take on the winner of Alexander Zverev and Tallon Griekspoor in the fourth round, with the Aussie defeating Zverev at the start of the year at the United Cup.

MORE: Alex de Minaur defeats Taro Daniel at Indian Wells Open to advance into next round

After his hot start to the year, including a second consecutive title at Acapulco and a final at Rotterdam, De Minaur went into the match as the hot favourite.

But Bublik is also having the best period of his career, winning the Montpellier Open and reaching the final in Dubai.

The Kazakh managed to get up an early break in the third game but was immediately pegged back by De Minaur in the following game.

A see-sawing contest saw both players again exchange breaks, led by De Minaur, in the eighth and ninth games before the Australian struck the decisive both as Bublik served for a tiebreaker.

De Minaur continued on with his momentum in the second set as he broke Bublik three times, didn't concede a break point and bageled his opponent for a comfortable victory.

It won't be easy for the Aussie in the fourth round as he likely faces Australian Open semi-finalist Zverev in a bid to reach Indian Wells' quarter-finals for the first time.

Alex de Minaur past singles results, next match

Date  Opponent/Result Tournament/Round
Dec. 29, 2023 def. 6-4 2-6 7-6(2) by Cameron Norrie United Cup (group stage)
Jan. 1, 2024 def. Taylor Fritz 6-4 6-2 United Cup (group stage)
Jan. 3, 2024 def. Novak Djokovic 6-4 6-4 United Cup (QF)
Jan. 6, 2024 def. Alexander Zverev 5-7 6-3 6-4 United Cup (SF)
Jan. 10, 2024 def. Carlos Alcaraz 6-4 5-7 10-3 Charity Match
Jan. 15, 2024 def. Milos Raonic 6-7(6) 6-3 2-0 Aus. Open (R1)
Jan. 17, 2024 def. Matteo Arnaldi 6-3 6-0 6-3 Aus. Open (R2)
Jan. 19, 2024  def. Flavio Cobolli 6-3 6-3 6-1 Aus. Open (R3)
Jan. 21, 2024 def. by Andrey Rublev 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-0 Aus. Open (R4)
Feb. 13, 2024 def. Sebastian Korda 6-4 6-3 Rotterdam (R1)
Feb. 15, 2024 def. David Goffin 6-3 6-1 Rotterdam (R2)
Feb. 17, 2024 def. Andrey Rublev 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3 Rotterdam (QF)
Feb. 18, 2024 def. Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 6-3 Rotterdam (SF)
Feb. 19, 2024 def. by Jannik Sinner 7-5 6-4 Rotterdam (F)
Feb. 22, 2024 def. by Alex Michelsen 6-4 6-1 Los Cabos (R1)
Feb. 26, 2024 def. Taro Daniel 6-2 6-1 Mexican Open (R1)
Feb. 29, 2024 def. Sebastian Ofner 6-1 6-3 Mexican Open (R2)
Mar. 1, 2024 def. Stefanos Tsitsipas 1-6 6-3 6-3 Mexican Open (QF)
Mar. 2, 2024 def. Jack Draper 6-3 2-6 4-0 ret. Mexican Open (SF)
Mar. 3, 2024 def. Casper Ruud 6-4 6-4 Mexican Open (F)
Mar. 9, 2024 def. Taro Daniel 6-1 6-2 Indian Wells (R2)
Mar. 11, 2024 def. Alexander Bublik 7-5 6-0 Indian Wells (R3)
Mar. 13, 2024 vs. Alexander Zverev or Tallon Griekspoor Indian Wells (R4)

Alex de Minaur ranking

De Minaur is currently the world No. 9 in men's singles – a career high.

In doubles, the Australian is the world No. 177.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.