All three Canadians in motion on Saturday superior to the third spherical on the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Félix Auger-Aliassime defeated Pedro Martinez 7-6(5), 6-4, Leylah Annie Fernandez outplayed Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-4 and Bianca Andreescu took the lengthy path to victory however got here out a winner ultimately over Peyton Stearns by a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 rating.
The Andreescu match had probably the most potential to get sophisticated in opposition to the American wild card Stearns, primarily as a result of she dropped the primary set to the 2022 NCAA champion from the College of Texas.
Struggling to search out kind, she wasn’t at her finest and didn’t appear capable of get untracked and counter her 21-year-old opponent. The No. 126-ranked Stearns is an efficient athlete who was at her free-swinging finest in taking the opening set. The second set went on serve to 2-all, with Stearns seeking to have an actual probability for the upset. However Andreescu broke to 3-2 and held the remainder of the best way to wrestle again management of the match. Within the third set she confirmed her pedigree. Stearns, accumulating extra unforced errors, performed as if she felt the strain of a superior opponent throughout the online, even when that opponent wasn’t enjoying at her high stage.
Each gamers had been coping with critically windy situations, which didn’t assist their efficiency. And Andreescu was getting so bothered by gusts that had been affecting her skirt that she modified after the primary set – simply carrying her bike shorts the remainder of the best way (see beneath).
“She performed actually sensible,” Andreescu stated about Stearns. “She was placing strain on my forehand so I needed to get my rhythm a little bit bit. I used to be undoubtedly anxious within the first set however I used to be capable of quiet down and get my ideas so as. I began enjoying extra to her backhand facet, and he or she’s super-steady on the backhand too. However I feel that helped a little bit bit – beginning off the purpose on the backhand.”
Having the ability to keep out in Stadium 3 for 2 hours and 24 minutes urged that her not too long ago troublesome shoulder is now not a difficulty. “Nothing, nothing is bothering me – we’re good,” Andreescu smiled. “There’s been plenty of shoulder workout routines and I really see a distinction within the power on my serve shoulder-wise. Typically I’ve to manage myself as a result of I’m so excited as a result of often I don’t often hit over 105 (mph) however right this moment I used to be hitting like 113 fairly constantly.”
Her third-round match-up on Monday can be in opposition to No. 1 ranked Iga Świątek. They’ve solely performed as soon as – the 21-year-old Pole successful 7-6(2), 6-0 on clay in Rome in 2022. “That match I feel I had an incredible first set,” Andreescu recalled. “It was like my third match again after being off for therefore lengthy. I don’t really matter that as a lot – and that is arduous courtroom which I desire. Hopefully that goes in my favour however I do know she’s gonna play superb. I’m going to organize nicely, going to have an excellent follow tomorrow (Sunday) and examine her as a lot as I can.”
Whereas there have been some ups and down within the Andreescu – Stearns match, they had been insignificant in comparison with the primary set of Auger-Aliassime versus the No. 140-ranked Martinez. Primarily there have been the exceptional 15 break-point probabilities it took within the first set earlier than Auger-Aliassime might lastly crack the Spaniard’s serve. That predicament largely originated from him placing himself behind the eight ball by dropping his very first serve of the match – ending it ingloriously with a pair of double faults.
He did lastly break via on the fifteenth strive with a backhand move down-the-line to stage the set at 5-all. And it wasn’t as if Martinez was that impressed in saving all of the break factors, typically it was effectual play by Auger-Aliassime or a little bit of dangerous luck, a shot lacking by mere millimeters.
Auger-Aliassime wound up taking the set in a detailed tiebreak and hung within the second set till he broke Martinez within the penultimate sport. He then served out, ending issues on his second match level.
Martinez might need saved himself having to defend so many break factors if he had a stronger serve to permit him to carry extra comfortably. The 25-year-old Spaniard had zero aces to 10 for Auger-Aliassime throughout the two-hour and 25-minute contest.
“It was a primary,” Auger-Aliassime laughed about all of the break factors in a single set, “and there are such a lot of firsts as gamers. There are such a lot of attainable conditions on a tennis courtroom. I did begin to play a little bit higher within the second sport however at a sure level it does begin to really feel like a curse. I advised myself that not less than I used to be creating probabilities. It’s not so dangerous, even should you don’t handle to transform. If it’s not within the first set, it’ll come within the second set so I used to be like ‘keep calm, there’s nonetheless plenty of tennis to play.’ I nonetheless believed all the best way to 5-4, continued to assume I might flip across the first set.”
Did the thought ever cross his thoughts about the truth that he had misplaced his earlier three matches in Indian Wells? “I did take into consideration that a little bit bit earlier than the match – a bit as a motivation,” he stated. “It’s the primary spherical of a Masters 1000 and I haven’t gained a match right here since 2019 despite the fact that it’s a match I like. The situations had been a bit completely different – it was windy. It wasn’t straightforward on serve or return to manage the ball. However really I did have that additional purpose to wish to win right this moment.”
Like most of the gamers, Auger-Aliassime enjoys being in Indian Wells. “The environment are magnificent – when you possibly can take a look at the mountains with the sunshine on them, it’s particular,” he stated. “Of all of the locations the place we play, there isn’t another one like right here. The match has been organized so it suits with the sensation of the realm – with the flowers and the garden the place all of the gamers heat up. It’s creates an incredible picture, and as gamers we admire that.”
Within the third spherical on Monday Auger-Aliassime will play No. 32-ranked Francisco Cerundolo. Their solely earlier assembly was on the Australian Open in January and Auger-Aliassime beat the 24-year-old Argentine 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 within the third spherical.
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He’s additionally within the doubles draw with Denis Shapovalov they usually play their second spherical on Sunday.
A fellow traveller on the tour with Shapovalov since their childhood junior days, Auger-Aliassime has emotions for him and the struggles he’s having in singles in the meanwhile.
“I’ve plenty of empathy for him,” he stated about Shapovalov. “The tennis circuit is totally completely different whenever you undergo a interval whenever you’re not successful many matches. I went via that final yr, even when it was a brilliant yr. From Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo – I misplaced three first rounds in a row. It’s not enjoyable – you follow arduous and attempt to do the best issues. All the pieces turns into a little bit darkish and there’s a way of doom. Life on the tour and on a regular basis life simply isn’t the identical. So I’ve plenty of empathy for him. I hope he’ll take the time earlier than Miami to coach and have an excellent match there. And I hope that we will preserve enjoying doubles right here this week.”
Fernandez, seeded No. 30, jumped out shortly to a 5-1 lead within the first set in opposition to the No. 128-ranked Navarro. After that the one actual uncertainty concerning the final result was when the 21-year-old American wild card took a 3-0 lead within the second set. Although there have been moments of aggressive steadiness, Fernandez merely hit tougher with higher angles and was a superior mover. She shortly regained management to win six of the ultimate seven video games to shut out the win.
The victory units up an intriguing third spherical in opposition to world No. 5 Caroline Garcia – an opportunity for Fernandez to avenge her loss to the Frenchwoman within the second spherical of the 2023 Australian Open.
Regardless of the one-sided rating, Fernandez wasn’t thrilled along with her efficiency in opposition to Navarro. “As we speak [Saturday] was arduous as a result of the nerves got here into play,” she stated. “I’ve been right here for a complete week. I didn’t assume I used to be going to be seeded. I believed I used to be going to play earlier this week [possibly as early as Wednesday]. I acquired additional coaching days however within the first spherical there’s these nerves that didn’t assist me. I used to be glad that within the vital moments I used to be capable of play the sport that I wished.”
Fernandez has an 9-5 file up to now this yr however in all probability hasn’t had the outcomes she could have deserved due to some robust attracts. She selected to play the middle-eastern occasions in Doha (misplaced to No. 19 Karolina Pliskova) and in Dubai (misplaced to No. 1 Iga Swiatek) as an alternative of returning as two-time defending champion to Monterrey, Mexico earlier this month. She subsequently misplaced the (250) Monterrey factors, leading to her rating tumbling to No. 49.
“There’s at all times a saying that my dad has advised me,” she stated. “‘Honest is unfair and unfair is truthful.’ I’m very glad the place my tennis in the meanwhile. After all the draw(s) haven’t been too form to me. However that comes with expertise and I’m additionally glad that I acquired these attracts as a result of I’m capable of see what I would like to enhance and the way arduous I must work. I’m nonetheless capable of see the optimistic facet of issues as an alternative of being down on myself.”
Requested what it feels wish to see the quantity No. 49 beside her title within the WTA rankings, Fernandez replied, “it hurts however I feel it’s identical to one other mountain to climb. I’ve misplaced the factors from Monterrey but it surely has giving me the chance to continue learning, to continue to grow. 49 is only a quantity and there’s much more to do that yr. I do have targets I wish to obtain.”
Her profession excessive rating was No. 13 in August final yr.
As for going through Garcia once more on Monday, referring to her 7-6(5), 7-5 loss to the 29-year-old Frenchwoman at Melbourne Park, Fernandez stated, “I feel I simply must go for my photographs a little bit bit extra. Nevertheless it was an incredible match we performed. I’ll have to speak with my coaches and see what I can do completely different.”
