4 shocking results from Day 5 of Indian Wells 2025 ft. Frances Tiafoe and Danielle Collins

Frances Tiafoe and Danielle Collins were among the big names who were upset on Day 5 at Indian Wells. Both players lost their respective third-round encounters in straight sets.

The losses for Tiafoe and Collins came as a setback for home hopes, but the two were not the only seeded players to be shown the door at the tournament on Sunday (March 9).

As we move towards the second week of action, let’s take a quick recap of the four biggest shocks that unfolded on Day 5 of the 2025 BNP Paribas Open:

1. Yosuke Watanuki defeats Frances Tiafoe

Frances Tiafoe, a former semifinalist at Indian Wells, fell to the in-form Yosuke Watanuki. He was a pale shadow of his usual self, losing in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(6).

Watanuki has been playing some of his best tennis this week, coming through the qualification rounds before scoring two solid wins in the main draw.

Against Tiafoe, the Japanese was at his explosive best as he thundered down 16 aces and created 12 break point chances to completely outplay his more fancied opponent. He was also the better player on the big points and edged Tiafoe in two tight sets.

Watanuki will lock horns with fellow upset artist Tallon Griekspoor in the next round.

2. Elina Svitolina defeats Danielle Collins

The highest seed to fall on the day at Indian Wells was Danielle Collins, who was bundled out by Elina Svitolina in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

The American was errant at the start of the contest, and Svitolina made the best of it, racing a break of serve. She would go on to close out the set with another break.

While Collins grew into the match, Svitolina was at her clinical best. She fended off four out of five break points while converting all four that came her way to deny the home fans any joy.

Svitolina will be up against another home favorite Jessica Pegula in the fourth round.

3. Marcos Giron defeats Alexei Popyrin

In what provided some joy to the home fans, Marcos Giron continued his giant-slaying run at Indian Wells, taking down another seeded player in the form of Alexei Popyrin.

The American, who had scored a big three-set win over Casper Ruud in the previous round, again found himself locked in a titanic tussle. This time, he came back from a set down to prevail 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.

Giron showed incredible fighting skills throughout the encounter, losing serve just once towards the back end of the opening set. He saved 13 of the other 14 break points en-route to victory.

Up next in the last-16 encounter for Giron will be Arthur Fils.

4. Arthur Fils defeats Lorenzo Musetti

Arthur Fils also improved on his best showing at Indian Wells by booking a spot in the last-16 for the first time with a battling 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Lorenzo Musetti.

It was a fiercely contested match, and there was very little to choose between the two players, with Fils winning just one more point, 97, to his opponent’s 96 overall. Both players even had the exact same number of aces and doubles faults and also share a 68% first-serve winning percentage.

In the end, it was Fils’ ability to raise his level just slightly in the third set that helped him secure the pivotal lead. The Frenchman will be up against Giron in the next round.

4 shocking results from Day 5 of Indian Wells 2025 ft. Frances Tiafoe and Danielle Collins