Alcaraz Powers Past Griekspoor, Wawrinka Ruins Rune At Indian Wells; Medvedev v Zverev 4R

Teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz powered past No. 31 seed Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(7-4), 6-3 to reach the fourth round at the Indian Wells Master.

Alcaraz was rock solid on serve never saving both break points. With aid of his drop shot, Alcaraz took the breaker and then broke early in the second.

The 26-year-old Griekspoor slips to 0-8 against Top 10 players and 0-2 against the Spaniard. Alcaraz collected his 100th career win.

Defending champion Taylor Fritz rolled by No. 30 seed Sebastian Baez in straights 6-1, 6-2. The 25-year-old Fritz hit four aces, dropped just three points on first serve, but was just 5/18 (28%) on second serves and was broken twice.

Fritz is a perfect 2-0 in tour-level head-to-head contests with Baez.

Former finalist Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland upended the No. 7 seed Holger Rune 6-2, 6-7(5-7), 7-5.

Rune defeated Wawrinka in Paris last fall when the Swiss had some words for Rune after. But yesterday after the win, Wawrinka had nothing for Rune who asked who come.

BIG WIN FOR STAN WAWRINKA!

What a frosty meeting at the net 🥶

Rune to Wawrinka: "You got nothing to say to me now?"

Wawrinka: "What do you want me to say?" 🍿 pic.twitter.com/uUXxahcKnP

— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) March 13, 2023

“The last 45 minutes was tough,” Wawrinka said. “I had the match in control and was playing well. I was putting a lot of pressure, I should have won the match way before.”

“I started feeling nervous and hesitated a little bit,” he added. “He came back in the match. He is an amazing player, a young player… It was important to stay there mentally because I am playing well.”

The 8th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime overcame an early cut chin and 27th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-4. In-form American Tommy Paul bounced rallied past No. 9 seed Hubert Hurkacz 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

The 11th-seeded Jannik Sinner advanced past France’s Adrian Mannarino in straight sets 7-6(9-7), 6-4. Jack Draper ousted former runner-up Andy Murray 7-6(8-6), 6-2 in an all Brit battle.

“I’ve looked up to Andy since I was so young,” Draper stated on court. “I watched him win Wimbledon for the first time in 2013 and then I’ve had the opportunity to get to know him and practice with him often since 2019. He’s a really special person, a great champion and a great human being and it was a privilege to play against him on this court.”

Also, Marton Fucsovics of Hungary got by (25y,63r) Alex Molcan of Slovakia 6-4, 6-2.

The Wednesday schedule includes all fourth round play highlighted by Alcaraz against Draper. Alcaraz was victorious in their lone contest in the 2022 Basel first round.

Fritz gets Marton Fucsovics, Medvedev meets Zverev, No. 10 Cameron Norrie will take on No. 6 Andrey Rublev, Auger-Aliassime faces Paul and Sinner sees Wawrinka.

Medvedev and Zverev had split their 12 meetings but haven’t played since the German’s 2021 ATP Finals win.

“I think we know each other very well,” said Medvedev. “Every match against such a top player is a new start. Every match he tries to adapt, I try to adapt. I remember he did very well in Turin to beat me. Like he played, first of all, he was serving great, so that’s the key for him. I think he’s a little bit less important here in Indian Wells probably. But I’m sure we’re gonna have a lot of rallies, lots of rallies. It’s gonna come down to who makes, again after like 20 shots, the best shot to try to put your opponent off balance, which is not easy to do here.”

TUESDAY INDIAN WELLS SCHEDULE
STADIUM 1
Matches Start At: 11:00 am
ATP Daniil MEDVEDEV [5] vs Alexander ZVEREV (GER) [12]
ATP Taylor FRITZ (USA) [4] vs Marton FUCSOVICS (HUN)
Not Before 3:00 PM
WTA Petra Kvitova (CZE) [15] vs Jessica Pegula (USA) [3]

Not Before 6:00 pm
ATP Carlos ALCARAZ (ESP) [1] vs Jack DRAPER (GBR)
Not Before 8:00 PM
WTA Iga Swiatek (POL) [1] vs Emma Raducanu (GBR)

STADIUM 2
Matches Start At: 11:00 am
WTA Coco Gauff (USA) [6] vs [Q] Rebecca Peterson (SWE)
WTA Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) [16] vs Aryna Sabalenka [2]
ATP Frances TIAFOE (USA) [14] vs [Q] Alejandro TABILO (CHI)
Not Before 6:00 PM
WTA Sorana Cirstea (ROU) vs Caroline Garcia (FRA) [5]
ATP Tommy PAUL (USA) [17] vs Felix AUGER-ALIASSIME (CAN) [8]