The Spanish ATP star on an 11-match winning streak that could rival Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells

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Carlos Alcaraz is the heavy favorite to win this year’s Indian Wells tournament, entering as a two-time defending champion.

The 21-year-old won his second title in California last year, as Alcaraz beat Daniil Medvedev, 7-5, 6-1.

Several top players will look to dethrone the Spaniard in 2025, including top seed Alexander Zverev, although he is yet to reach the semi-finals at Indian Wells.

Home favorite Taylor Fritz is a former champion at the event, having beaten the legendary Rafael Nadal in 2022, 6-3, 7-6.

World number one Jannik Sinner will miss Indian Wells, as he serves his three-month tennis suspension, gifting his rivals a rare opportunity to win a hard-court title in his absence.

There is one other player ranked outside the ATP’s top 100 who could spring a surprise, however, having not lost in over a month.

Pablo Carreno Busta is on an 11-match winning streak ahead of the 2025 Indian Wells tournament

Spanish star Pablo Carreno Busta is currently ranked 112th in the world but looks to be in scintillating form ahead of the year’s first Masters 1000 tournament.

After struggling with injuries for several years, the 33-year-old former top ten player has won his last 11 matches, picking up two titles on the Challenger Tour.

• Indian Wells Qualifying (R2) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Alexis Galarneau, 7-6, 6-3
• Indian Wells Qualifying (R1) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Zachary Svajda, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6
• Challenger Tenerife 2 (F) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Filip Misolic, 6-3, 6-2
• Challenger Tenerife 2 (SF) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Benjamin Hassan, 6-3, 6-2
• Challenger Tenerife 2 (QF) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Abedallah Shelbayh, 6-2, 2-1 (RET)
• Challenger Tenerife 2 (R16) – Pablo Carreno Busta advanced via Walkover
• Challenger Tenerife 2 (R32) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Jie Cui, 6-3, 6-4
• Challenger Tenerife 1 (F) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Alejandro Moro Canas, 6-3, 6-2
• Challenger Tenerife 1 (SF) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Pol Martin Tiffon, 6-4, 6-0
• Challenger Tenerife 1 (QF) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Vilius Gaubas, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6
• Challenger Tenerife 1 (R16) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Giovanni Fonio, 6-1, 6-2
• Challenger Tenerife 1 (R32) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Federico Arnaboldi, 6-0, 7-6

Advancing through qualifying, Carreno Busta will take on Frenchman Quentin Halys in the first round, who impressed at the Dubai Tennis Championships last month.

If he were to beat Halys in round one, the 33-year-old would set up an all-Spanish clash in the second round, facing off against Alcaraz.

The pair have played one another twice before on the ATP Tour, with Alcaraz winning on both occasions, at the Barcelona and Basel Open, three years ago.

Carreno Busta has enjoyed success at Indian Wells in previous years, however, reaching the semi-finals in 2017.

Pablo Carreno Busta’s run to the Indian Wells semi-finals eight years ago

The Spaniard was yet to reach the fourth round of a Masters 1000 event when he traveled to California eight years ago for Indian Wells.

He quickly found his form, as he enjoyed one of the best weeks of his professional career.

Carreno Busta saved a remarkable match point against Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas in the quarter-finals as he advanced to the last four, coming up short against three-time Slam winner Stan Wawrinka.

The result was his best at the Masters 1000 level until he produced a stunning display at the Canadian Open, three years ago.

Carreno Busta beat some of the world’s best players on his way to lifting the biggest trophy of his career.

• 2022 Canadian Open (F) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Hubert Hurkacz, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
• 2022 Canadian Open (SF) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Dan Evans, 7-5, 6-7, 6-2
• 2022 Canadian Open (QF) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Jack Draper, 7-6, 6-1
• 2022 Canadian Open (3R) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Jannik Sinner, 6-2, 6-4
• 2022 Canadian Open (2R) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Holger Rune, 6-0, 6-3
• 2022 Canadian Open (1R) – Pablo Carreno Busta beat Matteo Berrettini, 6-3, 6-2

Carreno Busta will no doubt be searching for more Masters 1000 success at Indian Wells, as he prepares to take on Halys in the first round, on Thursday, March 6.