BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells 2026: Cam Norrie into quarter-finals with solid win over Rinky Hijikata
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British No.2 Cam Norrie is safely through to the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells with a comfortable straight sets win over Australian Rinky Hijikata.
Norrie faced only break point in the match as he defeated the qualifier 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 17 minutes.
"It was a really clean match from my part," Norrie said. "I gave him absolutely nothing and in the rallies I was really bullying him. A lot of good tennis there from me."
The 2021 champion will return to the final eight in Indian Wells for the fourth time in his career.
"The ball just feels so nice here for me here," he added. "I don't know what it is. It somehow finds the court every time. I'm moving well and it's tough to get the ball past anyone on this surface. It's all good stuff for me."
In the quarter-finals, Norrie will face the winner between world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz and 13th seed Casper Ruud.
Norrie famously beat Alcaraz in their last meeting at the Rolex Paris Masters in October, marking the biggest win of his career.
The 30-year-old – who could be poised to regain the British No.1 spot this week – has already beaten world No.6 Alex De Minaur so far in Indian Wells.
After a flat opening service game from Hijikata, Norrie found himself an early break up in the first match of the day on Stadium 2.
It proved the difference in what became a tight first set. Norrie had the upper hand in the baseline exchanges, while Hijikata found success when adding more variety to his game and coming into the net.
The 27th seed served out the set after 41 minutes and found another level in a key period midway through the second.
At 2-2, Norrie played his best game of the match – connecting on flurry of forehand winners to break the Aussie.
It was a hammer blow that Hijikata was unable to recover from. Norrie made it back-to-back breaks with another ripping forehand down the line and rounded off the match with another comfortable hold.
Coming up later, Jack Draper gets set to take on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the fourth round, while Sonay Kartal looks to continue her impressive run up against Australian Open title-winner, Elena Rybakina.
