Second-seeded Jannik Sinner needed just 64 minutes to cruise through his opening match at the BNP Paribas Open, routing Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina 6-1, 6-1 on Friday in the second round at Indian Wells, Calif.
The Italian, who received a first-round bye, won 81% of the points on his first serve, 75% on his second serve and saved the lone break point he faced.
Sinner is beginning his second event since losing to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open. He fell in the quarterfinals at Doha, Qatar, two weeks ago.
“I feel mentally I’m in a good place,” Sinner said. “I’m calm, I’m relaxed. But I’m also very happy to compete. We did a lot of work. Many, many hours on court. Many hours in the gym. I’m trying to get a little bit stronger (physically). We did double sessions, not many days off at all.”
Unexpected days off are coming for another Italian, fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti, after he lost 7-5, 6-1 to Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics.
Musetti was back in action for the first time since a core muscle injury forced him to retire from the Australian Open quarterfinals while up two sets to love on Djokovic.
Fucsovics finished with more winners than Musetti (19-10) and fewer unforced errors (26-22).
The day’s slate featured two all-U.S. matchups.
Eighth-seeded Ben Shelton overtook Reilly Opelka 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-3, escaping despite Opelka attempting to serve for the match at 5-3 in the second set.
“Just happy to be through to the next round, that I went out there and gave myself a chance to compete and get a win against a tough opponent, especially on a court like this,” Shelton said.
Frances Tiafoe, the 21st seed, got past Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-2.
Learner Tien, seeded 25th, nipped Australia’s Adam Walton 7-6 (3), 7-6 (8) to set up yet another all-United States clash vs. Shelton.
Brandon Nakashima, a U.S. player seeded 28th, downed Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-3, 6-4.
Ninth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada rallied for a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 win over France’s Gael Monfils. Another Canadian, Denis Shapovalov, eked out a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5) victory over 29th-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina.
U.S. players split the last two matches of the night. Tommy Paul, the 23rd seed, blitzed Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-1, 6-2, but 12th-seeded Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic eliminated Marcos Giron 7-5, 7-6 (4).
Also advancing were fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany, 15th-seeded Flavio Cobolli of Italy, 18th-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain and 30th-seeded Arthur Fils of France.
–Field Level Media
