Andrey Rublev has amassed fairly a following within the desert since he first competed in qualifying on the 2016 BNP Paribas Open. On Friday night time, the sixth seed used the assist of a packed Stadium 3 crowd to defeat Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, storming again from a break down within the second set.
The opponents beforehand cut up a pair of three-setters over the previous 12 months, with Lehecka successful final month in Doha.
“We had a tough match in Doha,” Rublev stated after advancing to the Indian Wells third spherical. “He beat me and I wanted to see if I could take revenge. In the end I was able to win today, so I’m really happy.”
At the 12 months’s first ATP Masters 1000, Rublev received the opening set with out dealing with a break level however fell behind 0-2 within the second. He powered by means of the end line from there, successful six straight video games — together with a 0/40 escape at 2-2 — with the group rising in quantity with every level.
“The crowd, there are no words to describe how grateful I am,” Rublev mirrored. “I’ve been coming here every year since 2016. I can feel [the support]. This is my first match. Compared to last year… I was playing during the day last year. I think it was a full stadium but it was 50/50 support. Today I played a 10 p.m. match after a rain delay and had huge support, so it’s unreal.”
Rublev will meet Ugo Humbert within the third spherical after the Frenchman’s 7-5, 6-4 win towards twenty fifth seed Denis Shapovalov.
Frances Tiafoe additionally opened his Indian Wells marketing campaign with a straight-sets win on Friday night time, shifting previous fellow American Marcos Giron 6-2, 6-2. Tiafoe received the primary 4 and the ultimate 4 video games of the match and didn’t face a break level within the 65-minute win.
Seeded 14th, the US Open semi-finalist will meet Jason Kubler within the third spherical. Kubler led Grigor Dimitrov 2-6, 7-6(5), 3-0 when the Bulgarian retired with a right-knee harm.
Source web site: www.atptour.com
