By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday March 7, 2025
Indian Wells, California – Marcos Giron grew up dreaming about what it could be wish to play tennis on the largest stage in California. The Southern California native used to come back 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 huge 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 achieve 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, mates, it is 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 really have the ability to 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 complete. The 31-year-old American will face Alexei Popyrin within the third spherical.
First high 5 win + at dwelling = 🥰#TennisParadise | #MarcosGiron pic.twitter.com/GG0Bp9j7NX
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 8, 2025
It was a outstanding 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 sport has advanced quite a bit since then,” he stated. “I believe I’ve bought much more weaponry. Yeah, and I suppose additionally extra perception.
“At that cut-off date I used to be form of attempting to persuade myself that I had the extent. And profitable 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 enjoying solely ATP occasions. So that is form of the extent by way of the blokes 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 understand, top-level wins. That is my greatest win on rating. So it is wonderful right here at dwelling and the whole lot, however I do have extra perception in my capacity.”
