PAP/EPA / John G. Mabanglo / Pictured: Andy Murray
Veterans Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka won the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament on hard court in Indian Wells on Saturday without dropping a set. They were followed by the talented Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jannik Sinner and Jack Draper.
Andy Murray’s opponent in the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells was supposed to be Pablo Carreno. However, the Spaniard withdrew from the tournament with an elbow injury and Radu Albot entered the ladder as the ‘lucky loser’ of qualification. Changing opponents almost at the last minute didn’t hurt the Briton, who went onto the pitch with the right plan and attitude and after 100 minutes of play took the win 6:4, 6:3 .
So, in the third round, there will be a British duel of generations. Murray, 35, will face Jack Draper, 21. The talented tennis player from Sutton eliminated another of his compatriots on Saturday, the No. 24 seed Daniel Evans.
Stan Wawrinka is not going to leave the field open to the youngest either. The 37-year-old Swiss is taking part in the BNP Paribas Open for the first time since 2019 and is already in the 1/16 finals. On Saturday he hit 13 aces, converted two of five break points to beat 23-year-old Miomir Kecmanović 7-6(8), 6-4, Tournament No. 26, 7-6(8), 6-4.
WATCH THE VIDEO: #dziejesiewsport: what did he do?! Brilliant throw from… knees
The main representatives of the younger generation have followed in the footsteps of the veterans. Felix Auger-Aliassime, 22, got off to a poor start against Pedro Martinez but from 3-5 down in the first set he picked up the right pace and eventually won 7-6(5), 6-4. The eighth-seeded Canadian had ten aces and two breaks in two hours and 25 minutes.
The match between Jannik Sinner, 21, and Richard Gasquet, 15, went the same way. Marked with the number 11, the Italian also gave a serve in the opening game, but at the right moment he got back on track and also won without dropping a set.
Alex de Minaur of tournament 16 was eliminated. The Australian, champion of last week’s tournament in Acapulco, lost 4:6, 2:6 to Marton Fucsovics, seeded number 18. Borna Coric .
BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells (USA)
ATP Masters 1000, Hard Court, $8.8 million prize pool
Saturday March 11
2nd singles round:
Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada, 8) v Pedro Martinez (Spain) 7-6(5), 6-4
Jannik Sinner (Italy, 11) – Richard Gasquet (France) 6-3, 7-6(2)
Marton Fucsovics (Hungary) – Alex de Minaur (Australia, 16) 6-4, 6-2
Alex Molcan (Slovakia) v Borna Coric (Croatia, 18) 6-3, 6-3
Jack Draper (UK) v Daniel Evans (UK, 24) 6:4, 6:2
Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland, PR) – Miomir Kecmanovic (Serbia, 26) 7-6(8), 6-4
Andy Murray (UK) v Radu Albot (Moldova, LL) 6-4, 6-3
Schedule and results of the men’s tournament
Watch WTA Tour matches with Iga Świątek, Magda Linette and other top players on CANAL+ online (Sponsored link)