Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz powered past in-form Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 6-4 on Monday to continue his march toward a rare Indian Wells ATP Masters three-peat.
The World No. 3 from Spain booked his place in the last 16 with a clinical victory, breaking Shapovalov in the opening game with a blistering forehand down the line as he roared to a 5-0 lead.
Alcaraz said the quick start was key against an opponent coming off a title in Dallas and a semifinal run in Acapulco.
"I knew at the beginning of the match that I had to be really focused. I had to start the match really strong, knowing it was going to be a really tough battle," Alcaraz said. He saved three of the four break points he faced and converted four of his eight chances, sealing the match with an overhead that Shapovalov could barely get his racquet to.
Pleased with his performance, Alcaraz said there were still a few things he could improve as he tries to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to win three straight titles in the California desert.
In other matches, World No. 4 Taylor Fritz, the Indian Wells champion in 2022, said he "just stopped making super random mistakes" to turn things around in his 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Chilean Alejandro Tabilo.
"For the first set and a half, I just, for no reason, was just missing balls. I couldn't even imagine, I don't know why I was missing them," added the American, who had 43 unforced errors to 32 winners.
Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, ending the run of the Dutch lucky loser who toppled 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the second round.
Cerundolo next plays Australian ninth seed Alex De Minaur, who cruised past Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-0 to post his 50th match win at the Masters 1000 level. While upsets have claimed men's top seed Alexander Zverev, fourth seed Casper Ruud and number six Djokovic, the top five women's seeds are all safely into the fourth round after victories for world number one Aryna Sabalenka, third-ranked Coco Gauff and fifth-ranked Australian Open champion Madison Keys on Monday.
Gauff advances
American Coco Gauff overcame late nerves to beat Greek Maria Sakkari 7-6(1) 6-2 and reach the last 16 at Indian Wells on Monday, as her compatriot Madison Keys held off Belgian Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-7(8), 6-4.
Third seed Gauff was in fine form until the final game, where she produced six double faults before closing it out on her sixth match point. She will next play Swiss Belinda Bencic.
"Except the last game I thought I played a great match. Just trying to look at the positives," Gauff said after securing the win with a forehand winner.
"Obviously I was a bit disappointed with the last game but that's just the perfectionist in me."
Gauff had revenge on her mind in front of the home crowd after losing to Sakkari in the semi-final last year and showed her mettle as she won six points in a row to triumph in the tiebreak.
After trading breaks again early in the second set, Gauff broke Sakkari to love in the fifth game and looked ready to run away with the momentum from there.
But the serving struggles she has fought mightily to overcome undermined her best efforts at the finish line and she was forced to save four break points in the final game to keep it to two sets.
"Always an honour and privilege to play in front of this crowd," said Gauff, giving credit to the partisan U.S. crowd that powered her over through the finish.
Earlier in the day, Keys saved 12 of the 15 break points she faced to secure her 14th straight match victory, despite letting four match points slip through her fingers in the second set.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ