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The world number one lost a set in round two against the Australian Aleksandar Vukic 6:2.5:7.6:3. The 24-time Grand Slam winner is playing in the Californian desert for the first time in five years. Medvedev was safe against Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) with 6:2,6:3.
In the first match since his semi-final defeat at the Australian Open in January, Djokovic had more trouble than expected. “Of course I was a bit nervous at the beginning because I hadn’t played a match in five weeks,” admitted the “Djoker”. Djokovic hopes that the “rust” has now crumbled and he can ultimately win the trophy at the fifth largest tournament on the ATP Tour for the sixth time (which would be a record). In round three on Monday, Italy’s Luca Nardi shouldn’t be a big hurdle on the way to that.
Indian Wells was the first major sporting event in 2020 to be canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Because of his refusal to be vaccinated, Djokovic was not allowed to enter the USA for a long time.
In the women’s race, two top favorites had to fight hard to avoid being eliminated at the start. The world number two Aryna Sabalenka fended off no less than four match points against the American Peyton Stearns 6:7(2),6:2,7:6(6). Stearns had led 5:4,40:0 in the third set.
“Wow, she’s an incredible player and played some crazy tennis,” Sabalenka said of Stearns afterwards. “At the net she said, ‘I already had you’ and she was right. I was a bit lucky.”
Before that, US Open winner Gauff had similar difficulties, as she was already behind 0:4 and 2:5 in the third set against Clara Burel from France. In the end, Gauff also prevailed in the decisive tiebreak with 2:6.6:3.7:6(4). “I’m happy about the mental battle. It wasn’t my best tennis, but it’s also about what you do with bad days.”
For the billionaire’s daughter and number 5, Jessica Pegula, the end came. The American had to bow to the Russian with 2:6.6:3.3:6. Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova (CZE-7) has withdrawn from the tournament for personal reasons.
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I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
