By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday March 7, 2025
Indian Wells, California – Marcos Giron grew up dreaming about what it will be prefer to play tennis on the most important stage in California. The Southern California native used to return to the BNP Paribas Open and marvel on the sight of tennis heroes Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka as they practiced and performed on the event’s massive showcourts.
Now he’s part of the present, and on Friday, he realized a dream as he notched his first profession Prime-5 win with a 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-2 win over fifth-ranked Casper Ruud to succeed in the third spherical.
“To beat a top-5 participant on the planet, my first time, is wonderful, however then to have the ability to do it right here at house is even higher. So, yeah, with household, pals, this can be a event I got here to once I was youthful, seeing Federer, Nadal, Novak, Wawrinka, all these guys rising up.
“So I keep in mind watching on Stadium Court docket, Stadium 1, Stadium 2, and simply seeing all of them, and to truly be capable of go on the market and play, and to beat a top-5 participant right here is absolutely wonderful.”
Giron dominated off the forehand wing, firing 25 forehand errors, which was eight greater than Ruud’s whole. The 31-year-old American will face Alexei Popyrin within the third spherical.
First prime 5 win + at house = 🥰#TennisParadise | #MarcosGiron pic.twitter.com/GG0Bp9j7NX
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 8, 2025
It was a exceptional efficiency for a participant that had misplaced his first 23 units towards Prime 5-ranked gamers.
Ruud is into the third spherical at Indian Wells for the second time. He made his profession breakthrough right here in 2019, when he reached the third spherical from qualifying because the World No. 217.
“I believe my recreation has developed loads since then,” he mentioned. “I believe I’ve acquired much more weaponry. Yeah, and I suppose additionally extra perception.
“At that time limit I used to be type of making an attempt to persuade myself that I had the extent. And successful matches perhaps that I did not essentially know that I might do earlier than, however I used to be in a position to do at that time. However now I have been Prime 100 for the final 5 years, and I have been taking part in solely ATP occasions. So that is type of the extent when it comes to the fellows I have been competing towards week in, week out for the final 5 years.
“It provides me much more perception. I’ve much more, you already know, top-level wins. That is my greatest win on rating. So it is wonderful right here at house and every little thing, however I do have extra perception in my capability.”
