Hubert Hurkacz defeated Lucas Pouille 6–2, 3–6, 6–4 in the first round of the Indian Wells Masters on hard court on 10 March 2019, upsetting the pre-match favourite despite Pouille's odds of 1.92 compared to Hurkacz's 1.99. The Polish player claimed the opening set decisively but faced resistance in the second, which Pouille took to level the match. Hurkacz regrouped in the decider, securing the crucial break to edge through in straight sets. The result marked a solid performance from the rising Hurkacz, who demonstrated the composure required to overcome a competitive opponent in a Masters 1000 environment.