The seventh seed faced a potentially tricky assignment in Tuesday’s BNP Paribas Open third round, facing up against exciting home favourite Frances Tiafoe. Rublev showed little interest in getting involved in a drawn-out affair, however, crashing 21 winners in 70 minutes to breeze through with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.

The win on Stadium 1 extends Rublev’s winning streak to 11 after he took the titles in both Marseille and Dubai. It also avenged defeat to Tiafoe in the pair’s only previous ATP Head2Head meeting, a five-set thriller at the 2021 US Open. The American has struggled with an elbow injury since then, winning just two matches in 2022 so far, but on his day is a threat to anyone on tour.

Despite an early setback as Tiafoe broke in the opening game of the match. Rublev hit back to level at 2-2 and clinched a second crucial break at the tail-end of the set to get himself in front.

The second set was decided by a solitary break for Rublev, a dominant serving display making it difficult for Tiafoe to get any sort of foothold in the match.

Rublev will now take on 2021 Miami champion Hubert Hurkacz in the fourth round. The World No. 11 beat American Steve Johnson 7-6(7), 6-3 earlier on Tuesday, and will be looking to reach the quarter-finals in Indian Wells for the third time in three appearances when he faces up against Rublev on Wednesday.

More to follow.