Sports Writing (EFE).- The Spaniards Carlos Alcaraz and Paula Badosa started the Indian Wells tournament with force this Saturday, in a day that also recorded the victories of the Polish Iga Swiatek, number one in the WTA ranking, and the Canadian Felix Auger -Aliassime and the Italian Jannik Sinner, on the ATP circuit.
In his return after the hamstring injury that cost him the final of the Rio tournament, Alcaraz, first favorite in the Californian desert, beat Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 6-3.
The Murcian, winner of the US Open and the 1,000 Masters in Miami and Madrid last year, started a tournament shining that could restore him to first place in the world ranking.
To achieve it, Alcaraz, a semifinalist last year, needs to be crowned champion.
He is the first favorite in Indian Wells due to the loss of the Serbian Novak Djokovic, who could not enter the United States due to his refusal to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Alcaraz will face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, number 36 in the world, in the third round, who eliminated Argentine Guido Pella this Saturday in two sets decided in the tiebreaker. On the horizon, the Murcian has an appointment against a British veteran like Andy Murray or the young talent Jack Draper.
Also a good start for Badosa, champion of this tournament in 2021, who beat her compatriot Nuria Párrizas 6-2, 7-5.
In the next round, Badosa will face Kazakh Elena Rybakina, with whom she has a positive record of four victories in five matches.
Spanish tennis lost this Saturday Pablo Carreño, who withdrew from the tournament before his match against Andy Murray, and Pedro Martínez, who could not beat the Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime (7-6 (5) and 6-4).
Cerundolo and Báez advance
Francisco Cerundolo continued his journey in the Californian desert by coming back to win 4-6, 6-3 and 6-4 against Jack Sock, while Sebastián Báez overwhelmed the Australian Rinky Hijikata 6-3 and 6-1.
Cerundolo will face Auger Aliassime in the third round, while Báez will face Taylor Fritz, current tournament champion, who beat Ben Shelton this Saturday.
Among the other results, Murray defeated Radu Albot of Moldova 6-3, 6-4 and Jannik Sinner eliminated French veteran Richard Gasquet (6-3, 7-6(2)).
Swiatek winning start
Iga Swiatek only lost one game at the start of her title defense, beating American Claire Liu 6-0, 6-1.
He needed only an hour to impose his law against Liu, number 56, in a match in which he did not concede any breaking point.
The Pole took the first set in 26 minutes and forgave a match point at 5-0. Liu managed to hold serve for the only time and surrendered in the next game with the final 6-1. Swiatek, winner of eight titles in her extraordinary 2022, including Indian Wells, Roland Garros and the US Open, will face Canadian Bianca Andreescu in the third round.
The day in Indian Wells also recorded the victories of the British Emma Raducanu against the Polish Magda Linette (7-6 (3) and 6-2), of the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia against the Czech Katerina Siniakova (5-7, 7- 6(4) and 6-3) and the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, against the Polish Magdalena Frech (4-6, 6-4 and 6-1).
