Indian wells: Carlos Alcarazza holds a ‘Three-PEAT’ campaign on the trail with a victory over Denis Shapovalov | Tennis news
Carlos Alcarazza held his Indian “Three-Paat” campaign on the 6-2 6-4 track against the Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the third round, as a bunch of Americans were fed by home fans to reach the last 16.
The victory of the Spaniard Alcaraz’s second seed was never doubtful because he took the first five games, sending more than 10 winners in the first set only, because Shapovalov – who was fresh than a confident victory in Dallas – fought to find his usual intensity.
The four -time main winner never faced a break in the almost flawless second set and stayed in the last game, winning the win in less than 90 minutes with a powerful overpowering fall.
Alcarazza will play next to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, after the latter beat Gael Monfils 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (7-2).
“At the beginning of the match, I knew I had to be really focused. I had to start the match very strong, knowing that it would be a really difficult battle,” Alcarazza said.
Alcarazza wants to become only the third man who has won three direct titles in the Masters 1000 tournament, after retiring Great Roger Federer and former 1 Novak Djokovic No 1 Novak, who collapsed in the second round.
“I’m simply pleased with my performance today, for all I did,” Alcarazza said. “A few things I have to improve, but I’m really happy.”
By the way, Australian Alex de Minaur and Italian Jasmine Paolini also won overnight: the former beat Hubert Hurkacza 6-4 6-0, while the latter beat Jaqueline Cristian 6-4 3-6 6-4.
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenko used her powerful Wallop Lucia Bronzetti 6-1 6-2 service, bringing her best form to the tournament after suffering wounds exits on Qatar open and in Dubai.
It took a little time for Sabalenka to find her substrate, as she passed through the first set and quickly recovered after she rejected the serving early in the second. Next will play British lucky loser Sonay Kartal.
“It was not as easy as the result looked. There were difficult conditions and satisfied with the way I succeeded,” she said.
Americans Keys, Fritz, Shelton All Progress
The players fought against the tickling windy conditions in the California desert, as Americans Madison Keys, Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton gave fans of home fans to cheer up with convincing victories in the third round.
The winner of Fritz 2022 overcame a slow start to beat Chilean Alejandra Tabilo 4-6 6-3 6-1 and said he was expecting a difficult fight against the British Jack Draper, who blurred the joy of Americans while defeating Home Jenson Brooksby in direct sets.
“It will be a difficult match. I think it’s hard to pull it in the 16th round as a top-4 seed. He’s a very good player,” Fritz said. “I think he’s probably better than his rank, and yes, we had some tight.”
The newly married champion Australian Open Keys saved 12 of the 15 breaks he faced to beat Belgian Elise Mertens 6-2 6-7 (8) 6-4 securing his 14th win in a straight game.
The fifth seed, who lost to Mertens to his two previous meetings, fired five aces to set a fourth round meeting with Croatian Donna Vekic, and said that after her maiden break, she expected another level from herself.
“Overall in Australia, I played a really good tennis, and I think you get as far away from it, you forget more about the shocks of matches and moments where you didn’t play great,” Keys said.
“As much as the great Australia and all the victories I got, there have been a few more moments in matches where I didn’t play great or my things moved away. So, just being aware of it.”
Twenty-two-year-old Shelton got a crowd on her feet as she played with powers and invited to beat Karen Khachanov 6-3 7-5, fighting with bubbles on her arm.
Shelton won the second set, Shelton won the last four games of the match and scored it with one of the eight aces and a powerful joy. Will play compatriots Brandon Nakashima in the 16th round
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