Sports Writing (USA) (EFE).- The Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, with his 100th victory on the ATP circuit, and the Polish Iga Swiatek, number 1 in the WTA ranking, flew to the round of 16 of the Indian Wells, on a day in which the Spanish Paula Badosa and the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (n.4) said goodbye.
Alcaraz closed the central program with a 7-6(4) and 6-3 victory against the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor and met the British Jack Draper in the round of 16.
The 19-year-old from Murcia and the first seed, knew how to contain Griekspoor’s great start to the match and became the second fastest player to reach 100 victories on the Tour with a record of 100-32, after John McEnroe (100- 31).
He will play this Tuesday a match against the great hope of British tennis, a Draper who eliminated his compatriot Andy Murray (7-6(6) and 6-2) at the age of 21.
Swiss veteran Stanislas Wawrinka, defending champion Taylor Fritz and Italian Jannik Sinner also advanced to the round of 16 on a day in which Tommy Paul struck down Polish Hubert Hurkacz.
Swiatek suffers and Badosa says goodbye
Iga Swiatek had to suffer to knock down Canada’s Bianca Andreescu and advance to the round of 16 at the Indian Wells tournament.
After beating Claire Liu 6-0, 6-1 on her debut, Swiatek had a much more demanding round of 32, against Andreescu who was champion of this tournament in 2019.
The Pole needed two hours and seven minutes to beat the Canadian, number 34 in the world, and met the British Emma Raducanu in the round of 16.
Paula Badosa fell this Monday 6-3 and 7-5 against Rybakina, number ten in the world ranking, and said goodbye to the Indian Wells tournament, of which she was champion in 2021, in the third round.
Badosa, number 22 in the world, was a break up in the second set and had options to turn the game around, but succumbed to Rybakina, Wimbledon champion in 2022, who shielded her pass to the round of 16 in one hour and 35 minutes.
It was also a difficult match on a mental level for both players, two friends who also compete together in doubles. Just 24 hours after meeting they had lost their match against the Belgian Elise Mertens and the Australian Storm Hunter.
The tournament also lost the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, fourth favorite, who fell 7-6(5) and 6-4 against the Czech Marketa Vondrousova, number 105 in the world.
Báez and Cerúndolo, also eliminated
The American Taylor Fritz, defending champion, eliminated Sebastián Báez, and the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime knocked down Francisco Cerundolo, which ended the Argentine expedition in Indian Wells.
Fritz, number five in the world ranking, revalidated the resounding victory he had won against Báez last year in Cincinnati, when he defeated him 6-1, 6-1. On center court in Indian Wells, the American won 6-1, 6-2 in one hour and nine minutes of play and will face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in the round of 16.
Francisco Cerundolo surrendered 7-5, 6-4 to Auger-Aliassime, number seven in the world ranking. The Canadian will play the round of 16 against a Tommy Paul in great shape, who eliminated Hurkacz, number 11 in the world and a specialist on fast surfaces.
The day also recorded the round pass of the Swiss veteran Stanislas Wawrinka, who won a battle of two hours and forty minutes against the Danish Holger Rune 6-2, 6-7(5) and 7-5.
Wawrinka, Roland Garros champion in 2015 and current number 100 in the ranking after a year marked by physical problems, will play the round of 16 against Jannik Sinner.