(Indian Wells) Andrey Rublev, seeded N.7, qualified for the 3and round of the Indian Wells Masters 1000 on Sunday, beating Germany’s Dominik Koepfer 7-5, 6-4.
Posted at 5:40 p.m.
Updated at 5:49 p.m.
The Russian, recent winner in Marseille then Dubai, will face an American in the next round, Frances Tiafoe or Brandon Nakashima (N.28), opposed during the day.
Rublev took a little time to enter his match, since he was trailing 4-2, before immediately unbreaking, then taking the opposing serve for the second time to win the first set.
The second was also tight. After breaking to lead 4-3, the Russian immediately conceded his commitment, letting his opponent resurface, before taking the lead to win in 1:46.
Emma Raducanu, seed N.13 and surprise winner of the United States Open last year, was eliminated in the third round of the WTA in Indian Wells on Sunday, beaten 6-7 (3/7), 6- 4, 7-5 by Croatian Petra Martic.
The Briton, who created a resounding feat at Flushing Meadows where, after qualifying, she won without losing a set, has since had great difficulty confirming her status as a new star of women’s tennis on the court.
Facing Martic, the fight was intense and full of twists and turns on center court, and after being two points clear on her serve at 5-4, she was broken before giving up an 8and times his commitment and the game after 2:49.
Martin, 79and world, will be opposed to the Russian Liudmila Samsonova (32nd) in the round of 16.
Shapovalov and Bopanna advance in doubles
Canadian Denis Shapovalov and his Indian teammate, Rohan Bopanna, defeated the eighth pair of series, that of Briton Jamie Murray and Brazilian Bruno Soares 7-6 (4) and 6-4 in the first round in Indian Wells on Sunday.
The sidekicks only needed an hour and 28 minutes to get their second-round pass.
Murray and Soares respectively occupy the 20and and the 18and step of the ATP doubles ranking. They struggled on serve, with just 49% (32/65) of their first serve coming in play compared to 63% (40/64) for their rivals.
In the round of 16, Shapovalov’s duo will cross swords with the experienced pair of Mexican Santiago Gonzalez (39) and Frenchman Édouard Roger-Vasselin (38).