Indian Wells: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz scored a 6-2, 6-3 third-round victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime to extend his Indian Wells winning streak to eight matches, continuing his bid to advance to the semifinals for the third straight year in the desert.
Indian Wells (US) Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz scored a 6-2, 6-3 third-round victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime to extend his Indian Wells winning streak to eight matches, continuing his bid to advance to the semifinals for the third straight year in the desert.
Alcaraz smothered Auger-Aliassime and broke for 3-2 in the first set. His serve often presented him the opportunities to attack early in rallies. The defense remains. Offering up a defensive lob midway in the second set, Auger-Aliassime erred on a smash and couldn’t believe it.
The Spaniard broke for 1-0 in the second and Auger-Aliassime did well to keep the set close thereafter. He saved break points at 1-3 and escaped from deuce at 2-4. But Alcaraz got the second break, which happened to be the match, when Auger-Aliassime sent a forehand into the net.
Next up for the Alcaraz is a fourth-round showdown with Fabian Marozsan, a chance for Alcaraz to avenge his shock defeat to the Hungarian last May in Rome.
On the other hand, the Italian Jannik Sinner cruised past 25th seed Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday afternoon to reach the and extend his winning streak to 17 matches.
Sinner is undefeated in 2024 (14-0) and behind titles at the Australian Open and Rotterdam is up to No. 2 in the ATP Live Rankings.
He will face 16th seed Ben Shelton or 22nd seed Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the quarterfinals.
In another action, Stefanos Tsitsipas toppled Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-3 to sail into the fourth round for the first time since 2021.
He will next play Jiri Lehecka, who ousted Andre Rublev with straight sets 6-4, 6-4 win.