Canadian 18-year-old Felix Auger Aliassime cruised past Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-3 6-2 in 63 minutes
This year’s Rio Open finalist Felix Auger Aliassime saved both his break points he faced and converted all his three break point chances. He earned the first break in the second game of the opening set and consolidated the break to open up a 3-0 lead. He saved a break point in the seventh game to hold his serve for 5-2 and served out at love 6-3 with an ace.
Auger Aliassime, who is the youngest player in the main draw, broke serve at love in the third game and held his serve at 15 to open up a 3-1 lead. The young Canadian held his serve at love in the sixth game after saving a break point to open up a 4-2 lead. He went up a double break in the seventh game for 5-2 after a double fault from Norrie and served out at love 6-2 in the eighth game.
Auger Aliassime reached the second round where he will face his fellow Next Gen player Stefanos Tsitsipas for the first time in his career at ATP Tour level. The winner of this match with face this year’s Doha champion Roberto Bautista Agut.
Just one year ago Auger Aliassime won his first match at Masters 1000 level when he beat his compatriot in Indian Wells.
Kohlschreiber beat Herbert in straight sets
Phillip Kohlschreiber beat Pierre Hugues Herbert 6-4 6-0 with four breaks of serve to secure his spot in the second round at Indian Wells.
Herbert saved three break points to hold his serve after two deuces in the third game. The first set went on serve until the seventh game, where Kohlschreiber came back from 15-40 down to break serve after tw deuces for 4-3. The German player held his final two service games to seal the first set.
Kohlschreiber broke twice in a row and saved a break point in the second game to take a 4-0 lead in the second set. He converted his fourth break point in the fifth game after three deuces and served out the second set at 15 to take a bagel win.
