Alcaraz, Swiatek continue marching in Indian Wells, Murray Falls

INDIAN WELLS (USA) — Carlos Alcaraz fended off the stubborn Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Monday to reach the fourth round in Indian Wells as he and women’s top seed Iga Swiatek hardened Tests in California passed desert.

19-year-old Alcaraz had a difficult time breaking through against his determined Dutch opponent who had won their only previous meeting on hard.

He didn’t face a break point in the first set, nor was he able to convert either of his two.

A strong start in the tie-break proved the difference, with Alcaraz securing the set with a forehand winner on his second set point.

He rolled from there and broke Griekspoor in game two en route to a 3-0 lead in set number two.

“It was a really tough match,” Alcaraz said of his 100th ATP Tour match win. “Tallon is playing great, I had to concentrate a lot. Of course it’s also tough to play with a lot of wind like today.

“I had chances at the beginning of the first set, but I didn’t take them.

“In the second set I took the chances I had at the beginning and was able to play more relaxed.”

Alcaraz meets Britain’s Jack Draper for a spot in the quarterfinals after Draper defeated former world number one Andy Murray 7-6 (8/6), 6-2.

Swiatek, the women’s world No a 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) win over Canadian Bianca Andreescu.

Andreescu, whose 2019 Indian Wells title was the stepping stone to a breakout season that included a US Open crown, pushed Swiatek through tough baseline rallies, trading six breaks of serve with the reigning French and US Opens in the second set -Champion only to be overwhelmed by the tiebreak.

“Bianca can change the rhythm pretty well on this surface, it can be difficult,” Swiatek said, but added she was “glad I had the chance to play a little more under pressure and see how I deal with it become that.”

Next, Swiatek meets another former US Open champion, Britain’s Emma Raducanu, who recorded an impressive 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 win over the heavy-hitting Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Raducanu, who has been battling nagging wrist problems and tonsillitis in recent weeks, scored her best win by ranking since winning the US Open two years ago.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan secured her place in the fourth round with a 6-3, 7-5 win over former champion Paula Badosa of Spain.

Rybakina, who was ranked 10th in the world after a second-place finish against Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open in January, had lost her last three games against Badosa – her doubles partner this week.

Fourth-seeded Tunisian Ons Jabeur, playing her first tournament since missing Doha and Dubai following knee surgery, was beaten 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 by Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova – the same woman who Jabeur had upset the second round of the Australian Open.

In another second-round repeat of an Australian Open duel, fifth-placed Caroline Garcia defeated Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1.

– Fritz walks through –

Among the other men, defending champion Taylor Fritz prevailed 6-1, 6-2 against Argentinian Sebastian Baez.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, 37, beat 19-year-old seventh seed Holger Rune 6-2 6-7 (5/7) 7-5.

Wawrinka, a former world no start.

Murray, 35, who is trying to find his way back after hip surgery, failed to pull off a similar performance against compatriot Draper, 21.

Draper led the first set 3-1 but was broken on serve when he served for the set at 5-4.

He had to save a set point with an ace but was never behind in the tiebreak. Draper won the last four games to earn his first meeting with his childhood hero.

“I’ve looked up to Andy since I was so young,” Draper said. “I saw him win Wimbledon for the first time in 2013… He’s a really special person, a great champion, a great person and I feel privileged to play against him on this pitch.”