ATP Indian Wells: Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem and Milos Raonic advance
Making his Masters 1000 debut at Indian Wells, a qualifier Prajnesh Gunneswaran is through to the third round following a 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 win over the 17th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili in two hours and 31 minutes. As a result suggests, nothing could separate them throughout the match but the Indian won 14 points more, playing better on the second serve (Nikoloz hit 11 double faults) and saving three out of five break points, securing three breaks from ten opportunities. Prajnesh claimed the opener with a break in game five, serving well and securing the set with a hold at love at 5-4.
Basilashvili bounced back in set number two, winning it 8-6 in the tie break before trailing 5-3 in the decider after losing serve at love in game eight. Serving for the victory, Prajnesh got broken in the following game but he stayed calm, taking the tie break 7-4 to book the place in round three. Competing in only the eighth match of the season, Dominic Thiem defeated Jordan Thompson 6-4, 7-5 after a grueling an hour and 53 minutes. Focused on the pivotal points, the Austrian forged the gap after saving six out of seven break chances he played against, scoring three breaks to seal the deal in straight sets for the 50th Masters 1000 win.
Dominic won the opening set with a good return game at 2-2 and they pushed each other to the limits in set number two, with no less than 13 deuces in game three! From 4-2 down, Jordan grabbed three games in a row to boost his chances, only to suffer a break in game 11 and allowing Thiem to clinch the win after saving a break point a few minutes later. The 3rd seed Alexander Zverev stayed on the court for just 58 minutes, leading 6-3, 2-0 when Martin Klizan was forced to retire due to an ankle injury. Alexander, who didn't feel well on the court too, lost serve once and he did enough on the return to stay in front until Martin decided to retire, notching his 55th Masters 1000 victory.
The 13th seed Milos Raonic took down Sam Querrey 7-6, 6-4 in an hour and 44 minutes with a single break of serve, taking the tie break 7-1 and breaking Sam in the third game of the second set to bring it home and stay on the title chase. A lucky loser Miomir Kecmanovic replaced Kevin Anderson and he needed only an hour to dismiss Maximilian Marterer 6-3, 6-2 for his maiden Masters 1000 triumph. Miomir lost just nine points on serve and broke the German three times to control the scoreboard all the time and march towards the finish line, setting the third round clash against Laslo Djere.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2HojhZf
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