With the 2025 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells quickly approaching, the first round of qualifying matches have kicked off, promising excitement and drama. This year's tournament bears extra significance, especially with key players absent — most glaringly, world number one Jannik Sinner, who is suspended for doping violations. Instead, the seeding is led by Sascha Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, who looks to defend his title.
The opening day of the ATP Indian Wells qualifying showcased several Italian players eager to secure their spots among the tournament's elite. Mattia Bellucci, who entered as the number one seed of the qualifying draw, faced off against Japan's Yosuke Watanuki. Both players, yet to meet on the professional circuit, approached the match loaded with motivation. Bellucci was viewed as the favorite with betting odds favoring him heavily at 1.42 due to his previous success on the circuit, including reaching the semifinals at Rotterdam earlier this year.
“Bellucci wants to start strong after his underwhelming showing at Acapulco, where he faced consecutive losses,” noted Eurosport. Indeed, Bellucci's form has fluctuated but showed promise heading to this pivotal match. Meanwhile, his opponent Watanuki was desperate for redemption after managing only one win from five recent outings.
Before Bellucci took the court, Fabio Fognini prepared to clash with the American wildcard, Colton Smith. Fognini, currently ranked 95th, was making his long-awaited return following significant foot surgery and had limited play this year, having had to withdraw from the Australian Open. The Italian's road to recovery was challenging, and expectations were modest. Odds makers gave Smith, ranked 261st, the advantage at 1.42, mirroring Fognini’s uphill battle to gain form.
“Fognini will be looking to put his troubles behind him by qualifying for the 2025 edition of the tournament,” said Eurosport, emphasizing the weight of the match for the seasoned player.
“He has just one competitive match this year, which ended poorly, so gaining some traction here could be pivotal,” Eurosport continued. Despite his experience and flair for the game, Fognini struggled throughout the match against Smith, dropping the first set 6-3 after conceding his three initial service games. The second set saw little improvement as he succumbed to another early break.
While Fognini faced his early exit, Bellucci likewise fell to Watanuki, who provided an impressive challenge to the top seed. Rather unexpectedly, Bellucci lost decisively with scores of 6-1, 6-2, showcasing the unpredictability of tennis. “It wasn’t his day, facing off against Watanuki, who played clean and aggressive tennis,” reported Eurosport.
On the brighter side for Italian fans, two other competitors emerged victorious from the qualifying rounds. Matteo Gigante, who has struggled with his placement recently, faced Mitchell Krueger and managed to pull through with a strong performance, winning 6-4, 6-2. The win was significant, marking Gigante’s resilience coming off several losses. He now advances to battle the Dutch third seed Botic van de Zandschulp for one of the coveted main draw spots.
Giulio Zeppieri also pulled through without much fuss against Taiwan’s Chun Hsin Tseng, beating him solidly, securing his place for the decisive qualifying round. Notably, this win marked Zeppieri’s first victory against a top 100 player since the previous year's French Open.
Both players were praised for their performance against tougher opponents than they had faced previously, as the ATP Asia swing has seen many of them gain experience and come back stronger. Zeppieri’s matchup with either the inexperienced Theo Papalamis or seasoned veteran Mikhail Kukushkin awaits.
The stage is now set for the final qualifying round before the main draw kicks off on March 5th. Other young hopefuls, alongside veterans, will promise to make this combined event exciting. While two of the higher seeds—Bellucci and Fognini—already faced elimination, the advancing players will look to capitalize on their opportunities going forward.
With live coverage available, fans worldwide can follow their favorite players as they vie for spots at one of tennis's premier events. The BNP Paribas Open stands as the first significant 1000-level tournament of the season, bringing together all the stars, ensuring thrilling matches are to come.