Medvedev, Rublev Win Indian Wells Openers; Murray-Alcaraz, Zverev-Brooksby Today

Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev coasted to opening round wins at Indian Wells on Saturday.

Medvedev cruised past Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-2. The US Open champion has now won 17 of his last 18 matches.

“I’m actually really pleased, because usually I haven’t played well in Indian Wells and I haven’t been playing that well in practices before,” Medvedev told the crowd. “Really happy with my performance. That’s the most important no matter how I played before the tournament.”

Rublev kept pace late in the evening defeating Carlos Taberner 6-3, 6-4.

I feel the same,” Rublev said of his first Indian Wells in 2019. “Of course, I hope I improved a lot and obviously if I’m 5 in the world, I should improved.

“Hopefully I improved all my skills, all my shots, plus hopefully I’m better physically, mental part and that’s why I hope I’m a better player.”

Rublev will meet Tommy Paul on Monday while Medvedev meets Filip Krajinovic who defeated American Marcos Giron in two sets.

Frances Tiafoe picked up a terrific win hanging on to beat Sebastian Korda 6-0, 6-4. He’ll now face Miami champion Hubert Hurkacz.

Diego Schwartzman saved two match points to escape Maxime Cressy 6-2, 3-6, 7-5. The big-bombing Cressy served for the win at 5-4, 40-15 in the third set.

The Argentine will now meet Dan Evans who also went three sets in a tough win over Kei Nishikori.

Reilly Opelka and Grigor Dimitrov set up a Monday showdown, as did Denis Shapovalov and Aslan Karatsev.

On Sunday, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini also make their debuts.

Zverev will face the quirky Jenson Brooksby. And former No. 1 Andy Murray returns to meet 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the match of the day at about 5pm ET.

SUNDAY INDIAN WELLS SCHEDULE
STADIUM 1 start 11:00 am
WTA – [25] V. Kudermetova (RUS) vs [2] I. Swiatek (POL)
WTA – [32] S. Cirstea (ROU) vs [4] E. Svitolina (UKR)
ATP – J. Brooksby (USA) vs [3] A. Zverev (GER)
ATP – Not Before 6:00 pm – P. Martinez (ESP) vs [2] S. Tsitsipas (GRE)
WTA – Not Before 8:00 PM – [23] L. Fernandez (CAN) vs [9] A. Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)

STADIUM 2 start 11:00 am
ATP – [5] M. Berrettini (ITA) vs [Q] A. Tabilo (CHI)
ATP – [30] C. Alcaraz (ESP) vs [WC] A. Murray (GBR)
WTA – Not Before 3:00 PM – A. Sasnovich (BLR) vs [11] S. Halep (ROU)
WTA – Not Before 6:00 PM – [7] P. Kvitova (CZE) vs [27] V. Azarenka (BLR)
ATP – [20] J. Isner (USA) vs Y. Nishioka (JPN)