Eighth seed Dominic Thiem is through to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open after defeating Mischa Zverev 6-1, 6-3 on another warm day at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Monday. The Austrian nullified Zverev’s serve-and-volley tactics as he advanced in just under an hour. Thiem was denied five match points in the ninth game of the second set, but served out victory to love in the following game. “He's a very tricky opponent, it's really different to play against him. You cannot really prepare, but I had a very good start,” said Thiem. “In general, I returned very well, probably better than I expected myself. It's very important the first two shots against him, return, and then...
As Novak Djokovic continues arguably his toughest path at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, the second seed in Indian Wells paid tribute to the elite Masters 1000 level. Djokovic has won 30 Masters 1000 titles, the most in history. Winning his 31st title won't be easy, though. Djokovic will meet Juan Martin del Potro in the third round at the BNP Paribas Open. If the Serbian improves to 13-4 against del Potro, Djokovic will meet #NextGenATP star Alexander Zverev or 15th seed Nick Kyrgios. The path gets only harder for Djokovic, who's going for his fourth consecutive Indian Wells title and sixth overall. In the quarter-finals, Djokovic could meet Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer. “I have had an...
Taylor Fritz played the match of his life to fight back and stun World No. 7 Marin Cilic 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday. It was the first Top 10 victory for the 2016 ATP Star of Tomorrow presented by Emirates. "Just the whole experience with the crowd, how I came back in the match, words can't describe it, really," said a beaming Fritz during a packed post-match press conference. Late-night matches in Indian Wells are a special treat for not only the spectators, but the players as well. In the shadow of the San Jacinto Mountains, Stadium 3 was abuzz with excitement on a warm evening in the California desert. Chants of 'Taylor! Taylor!' rang...
At first glance it is a rivalry that reads heavily in Novak Djokovic’s favour, but a closer inspection of the Serbian’s encounters with Juan Martin del Potro reveals a very different state of affairs. For nearly a decade the two have waged a string of epic battles and after their respective second-round triumphs at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, they will lock horns for a 17th time this week. Djokovic leads the FedEx ATP Head2Head series 12-4, but five of their past six matches have gone the distance. The only match in those six that hasn’t was del Potro’s narrow 7-6(4), 7-6(2) shock win in the first round of last year’s Rio Olympic Games. It was a victory the...
