Brandon Nakashima defeated Matteo Arnaldi 6–2, 6–4 in the second round of the Indian Wells Masters on hard court, claiming a notable upset against the pre-match favourite. Arnaldi entered as the slight odds-on selection at 1.92, but Nakashima's superior court control and consistency proved decisive throughout the encounter. The American's commanding performance in the opening set established early momentum, which he maintained through the second to secure passage to the third round. This victory represents a significant scalp for Nakashima at a Masters 1000 event and suggests improved form heading into the latter stages of the tournament.