Andrey Rublev tops Andy Murray in Indian Wells

 

[March 09, 2024]  Former world No. 1 Andy Murray of Great Britain failed to take advantage of an early lead and lost 7-6 (3), 6-1 to fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev of Russia in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open on Friday in Indian Wells, Calif.

Murray had four set points on Rublev's serve at 4-5 in the opening set but couldn't convert. Rublev subsequently rolled through the tiebreaker and dominated the second set.

"He had a lot of chances in the first set and I was lucky to win. Had I lost it, it would have been really, really tough," Rublev said. "After the first set, I felt more confidence and I knew that it would be even tougher for Andy to keep up his consistency."

Sixth-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany survived two tight sets to top Australia's Christopher O'Connell 6-4, 6-4.

Zverev got the only service break of the first set in the final game. The players exchanged breaks in the middle of the second set, and then Zverev again logged a break in the last game to wrap up the victory.

"For me, he is a very difficult opponent. He has a lot of shots that are uncomfortable for me," Zverev said. "I'm extremely happy to be in winning ways again. Definitely happy to win in two sets."

Many of the seeded players got into action on Friday in the second round after the top 32 all received first-round byes.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, seeded second, got off to a slow start before downing Italy's Matteo Arnaldi 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-1.

"I had to change just a few things," Alcaraz said. "I made a few mistakes in the first set. ... I had to put in more first serves in the second and third set, and I think that was a big key to improving my level a little bit, to be in the rallies -- long rallies as well, to get the rhythm, and I'm really happy to get it at the end."

No. 3 Jannik Sinner of Italy had little trouble with Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis, winning 6-3, 6-0. No. 10 Alex de Minaur of Australia blitzed Japan's Taro Daniel 6-1, 6-2, and No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece crushed French qualifier Lucas Pouille 6-3, 6-2.

No. 16 Ben Shelton of the United States, 21, came from behind to beat 18-year-old Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild eliminated No. 15 Karen Khachanov of Russia 6-1, 7-5.

No. 18 Frances Tiafoe of the United States, No. 20 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, No. 22 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, No. 27 Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, No. 31 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada and Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic also advanced. Hungary's Fabian Marozsan upset No. 24 Nicolas Jarry of Chile 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

--Field Level Media

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