Alexander Zverev defeated Brandon Nakashima 7–6, 5–7, 6–4 in the second round of the Indian Wells Masters on hard court, confirming his status as the pre-match favourite with odds of 1.25 to Nakashima's 3.84. The German top seed navigated a competitive encounter that saw the American mount a strong challenge in the second set, forcing a decisive third frame. Zverev's superior experience and consistency ultimately proved decisive, particularly in the opening tiebreak and the closing set, where he secured the crucial break of serve to seal victory. The result maintains Zverev's momentum in the desert and sets up a third-round clash against a higher-ranked opponent.