Federer Stopped By Rain At Indian Wells, Dimitrov Upset; Djokovic Returns Sunday
About the only thing that can stop Roger Federer these days is Mother Nature. After a brief rain delay to the start of his opening match last night against Federico Delbonis, the Swiss avoided some early bumps before rolling out to a 6-3, 2-2 lead. And then the rains returned canceling the night at about 10:30pm local time.
Federer and the Argentine will resume this afternoon.
Before the rains, Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco scored the upset of the day sending home Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3.
“I always love this sport. I always love to play,” said Verdasco. “Being able to go out to the court and know that you are ready to fight these guys, no? Now I’m 34 and I have to fight against players 21, 22, 23 that are much younger. They have much less miles or kilometers in his legs. And I just have to work really hard and keep that motivation high to be able to win matches.”
Dimitrov has now lost his last three matches. He has never made even the fourth round at Indian Wells.
The 34-year-old Verdasco moves on the face American Taylor Fritz who earned a great win beating junior foe Andrey Rublev.
“I got to play with a lot of emotions and heart just because the crowd was pumping me up so much,” said Fritz. “They were cheering so heavily in my favor, and it really got me excited, pumped up. And not to mention as well I’ve played so many tournaments as a kid here. I’m just so used to the courts. I just feel comfortable. You kind of just feel that sense of comfort and confidence at certain places.”
In a good battle of one-handed backhands, Dominic Thiem denied Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Big men Kevin Anderson, Tomas Berdych and Daniil Medvedev were also winners along with Pablo Cuevas who beat Denis Shapovalov and Hyeon Chung came from a set down to beat Dusan Lajovic.
On tap Sunday, 5-time champion Novak Djokovic returns from an elbow injury to meet Taro Daniel. John Isner gets Gael Monfils and Juan Martin del Potro battles the young Australian Alex De Minaur.
Kei Nishikori is also in action and in an intriguing Canadian clash, Milos Raonic meets 17-year-old Felix Auger Alissiame.
SUNDAY INDIAN WELLS SCHEDULE
STADIUM 1 Starts At 11:00 Am
3rd Rd -9 Petra Kvitova VS (WC) Amanda Anisimova
Followed By
2nd Rd (Q) Taro Daniel VS -10 Novak Djokovic
Followed By
2nd Rd -1 Roger Federer VS Federico Delbonis 6/3 2/2
Followed By
3rd Rd -1 Simona Halep VS (WC) Caroline Dolehide
Followed By
2nd Rd -8 Jack Sock VS Thomas Fabbiano
Not Before 7:00 Pm
2nd Rd -6 Juan Martin del Potro VS (WC) Alex de Minaur
Not Before 8:30 Pm
3rd Rd (Q) Sachia Vickery VS Naomi Osaka
STADIUM 2 Starts At 11:00 Am
2nd Rd -15 John Isner VS Gael Monfils
Not Before 12:30 Pm
2nd Rd -13 Sloane Stephens VS (WC) Victoria Azarenka
Followed By
2nd Rd Ekaterina Makarova VS -10 Angelique Kerber 6/3 0/0
Followed By
2nd Rd Marton Fucsovics VS -2 Marin Cilic
Followed By
3rd Rd -17 CoCo Vandeweghe VS Maria Sakkari
Followed By
2nd Rd Joao Sousa VS -4 Alexander Zverev
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