Medvedev Maintains Win Streak, Zverev Next At Indian Wells; Murray v Draper, Alcaraz Today

Daniil Medvedev ran his win streak to 16 Sunday at the Indian Wells Masters defeating the 85th-ranked Ilya Ivashka 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

Medvedev had won his last 18 sets until that second set wobble which saw Ivashka break the former No. 1 twice including to force a decider.

Medvedev finished with eight aces and six doubles. Ivashka drops to 2-17 against Top 10 players and 1-4 against Medvedev.

“Very tough, not easy to play here. For everyone, for everyone,” Medvedev said. “I feel like there are, let’s say, 10 players that have the quality, I will not say which one, but to play good here because they have something in their game that can help them. Other than that everyone is struggling.

“You can see a lot of matches 6-1 in one of the sets, and you look at it on TV and you’re like the other one is not playing bad, just few moments. You miss few shots on important moments after 25-shot rally.

“That kind of was the difference between second and third set. I cannot say I played much better in the third, but managed to be the one not missing after 25 shots but it was more him managed to just be a little bit better on the important moments.”

Medvedev will now face Alexander Zverev on Tuesday. The No. 12 seed Zverev got through 23-year-old Finnish star Emil Ruusuvuori 7-5, 1-6, 7-5.

“So he’s coming back, he’s playing better and better,” Medvedev said of Zverev. “I think he’s not yet at where he was when he got injured, but every new match against a top player is an opportunity for him to bring back this level. So I’m gonna have to try to play my best, and postpone it for at least next tournament.”

Sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev bested (Ugo Humbert in straight sets 7-5, 6-3. Rublev overcame an early break to start the match and then got an early break in the second.

Also, former champion and No. 10 seed Cameron Norrie rallied to defeat Taro Daniel of Japan 6-7(5-7), 7-5, 6-2. No. 23 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina bounced No. 13 Karen Khachanov in three sets 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. American favorite Frances Tiafoe dismissed ason Kubler 6-3, 6-2 and Alejandro Tabilo got the better of Jordan Thompson 6-3, 7-6(8-6).

Ahead Monday, key matches slated in third round play including No. 31 Tallon Griekspoor taking on No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz leads Griekspoor 1-0 in their tour-level meetings winning their lone clash in the 2022 Wimbledon last summer. Alcaraz is bidding for his 100th career win.

Also, No. 30 Sebastian Baez will battle No. 4 Taylor Fritz, No. 7 Holger Rune clashes with Stan Wawrinka, No. 8 Felix Auger-Aliassime clashes with No. 27 Francisco Cerundolo, No. 17 Tommy Paul faces No. 9 Hubert Hurkacz, No. 11 Jannik Sinner draws Adrian Mannarino, Andy Murray meets Jack Draper for a first time and Marton Fucsovics squares off against Alex Molcan.

MONDAY INDIAN WELLS SCHEDULE
STADIUM 1
Matches Start At: 11:00 am
WTA Leylah Fernandez (CAN) [30] vs Caroline Garcia (FRA) [5]
WTA Elena Rybakina (KAZ) [10] vs Paula Badosa (ESP) [21]
Not Before 3:00 pm
ATP Taylor FRITZ (USA) [4] vs Sebastian BAEZ (ARG) [30]

Not Before 6:00 PM
WTA Iga Swiatek (POL) [1] vs Bianca Andreescu (CAN) [32]
ATP Carlos ALCARAZ (ESP) [1] vs Tallon GRIEKSPOOR (NED) [31]

STADIUM 2
Matches Start At: 11:00 am
ATP Hubert HURKACZ (POL) [9] vs Tommy PAUL (USA) [17]
ATP [PR] Stan WAWRINKA (SUI) vs Holger RUNE (DEN) [7]
Not Before 3:00 PM
WTA Ons Jabeur (TUN) [4] vs Marketa Vondrousova (CZE)
Not Before 6:00 pm
ATP Jack DRAPER (GBR) vs Andy MURRAY (GBR)
Not Before 8:00 PM
WTA [Q] Varvara Gracheva vs Daria Kasatkina [8]