By Giovanni Vianello
With the big names in the men’s draw yet to play in Indian Wells, Thursday provided an opportunity for the less established players to shine at the Californian tournament.
The first match on Stadium 1 was between Karen Khachanov and Tommy Robredo, who entered the tournament with a Protected Ranking. In the first set the Russian rising star outplayed a very low-performing Robredo with the result being 6-1 in his advantage. In the second set Robredo played better and in the first game gained a break of advantage, making rallies longer, but when it came to serving for the second set, Robredo failed, being afterwards broken another time and succumbing 6-1, 7-5.
“It feel great. It’s my first time here in Indian Wells,” said Khachanov, who won his first Masters 1000 match. “I’ve heard a lot about this tournament and I’m really happy that I could get through to the second round. Today I had to be ready from the first point, concentrate 100 per cent and play my game. That is the main focus in all the matches at the ATP World Tour level. I had to be there the whole match and fight to the end to get the win.”
Khachanov’s reward will be a second round clash with David Goffin in what will be their first meeting on the tour.
Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi, who looks like he’s becoming better with age, eased past Robin Haase. The Italian player went up 4-0 in the first set, got counter-broken once and let Robin Haase recover to 3-4, but the Italian then kept the break and won the first set 6-4. In the second set a similar scenario occurred, Lorenzi gained two breaks (the score was of 5-2), was counter-broken once, but in the end broke the opponent once again, winning the match 6-4 6-3. The world No.38 now faces a clash with Stan Wawrinka.
Australia’s Jordan Thompson was forced to retire in his match against Mikhail Youzhny after injuring his ankle whilst trailing 0-3 in the final set.
.@Shahovez this moment #Thompson (🎥@TennisTV ) pic.twitter.com/Y4pU0yMUms
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) 9 March 2017
Adrian Mannarino held his nerve to dismiss Argentina’s Juan Monaco 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1. The Frenchman went down a break twice in the second set and served for the match on 6-5 in his advantage before losing the tiebreaker. In the third set a no-contest happened as Monaco looked too tired to compete and so Mannarino strolled to straightforward third set triumph.
Barbados player, Darian King, surprisingly won his match against the Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili in 2 sets, 7-5, 7-5.
During an emotional roller-coaster match, Joao Sousa defeated the Argentine Diego Schwartzman 4-6 6-3 6-4. In the first set the Argentinian looked likely to dominate the match, but then, as the match went on, the Portuguese player was able to play at a better level and at first clinched the second set 6-3, then, battled his way through a tricky deciding set.
Indian Wells Men’s Singles Round 1 matches
Alexandr Dolgopolov (Ukraine) beat Viktor Troicki (Serbia) 6-1 6-4
Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) beat Jordan Thompson (Australia) 1-6 6-1 3-0 (J. Thompson retired)
Peter Gojowczyk (Germany) beat Reilly Opelka (U.S.) 6-4 3-6 6-1
Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) beat Robin Haase (Netherlands) 6-4 6-3
Karen Khachanov (Russia) beat Tommy Robredo (Spain) 6-1 7-5
Bjorn Fratangelo (U.S.) beat Bernard Tomic (Australia) 6-2 6-2
Vasek Pospisil (Canada) beat Lu Yen-Hsun (Taiwan) 6-7(6) 6-4 6-3
Jeremy Chardy (France) beat Radu Albot (Moldova) 7-6(2) 6-2
Yoshihito Nishioka (Japan) beat Elias Ymer (Sweden) 6-4 6-1
Fabio Fognini (Italy) beat Konstantin Kravchuk (Russia) 0-6 7-5 6-4
Martin Klizan (Slovakia) beat Thiago Monteiro (Brazil) 7-6(6) 6-3
Joao Sousa (Portugal) beat Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) 4-6 6-3 6-4
Darian King (Barbados) beat Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia) 7-5 7-5
Dusan Lajovic (Serbia) beat Frances Tiafoe (U.S.) 6-3 6-3
Adrian Mannarino (France) beat Juan Monaco (Argentina) 6-3 6-7(5) 6-1
