Auger-Aliassime, Fernandez, Andreescu advance to 3rd round at Indian Wells

Canada's Bianca Andreescu, Leylah Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime are all on to the next round of the Indian Wells Masters tournament.

Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., needed three sets to top American Peyton Stearns 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the round of 64 of the women's single's tournament on Saturday in Indian Wells, Calif.

Earlier on Saturday, Fernandez of Laval, Que., dispatched Emma Navarro of the United States 6-2, 6-4.

Montrealer Auger-Aliassime beat Spain's Pedro Martinez 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the men's bracket.

WATCH l Andreescu goes the distance to defeat Stearns:

Andreescu advances to 3rd round at Indian Wells

2 years ago

Duration 1:39

Bianca Andreescu defeated American Peyton Stearns 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Saturday night at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.

Andreescu got off to a shaky start against Stearns but eventually found her groove en route to a three-set victory, taking two hours, 24 minutes to defeat her 21-year-old rival from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Andreescu had two aces, four double faults, and won 46 of 92 points on return. Stearns had no aces, six double faults and only won five of 12 break points.

WATCH l Fernandez punches Indian Wells 3rd round ticket:

Canada's Fernandez beats Navarro of U.S. at Indian Wells

2 years ago

Duration 1:24

Leylah Fernadez of Laval, Que., advances to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., with a 6-2, 6-4 win over American Emma Navarro.

Fernandez had two aces to Navarro's none, winning five of 12 break points to the American's two of four.

Fernandez will face the winner of a match between France's Caroline Garcia and Hungary's Dalma Galfi.

WATCH l Auger-Aliassime tops Martinez at Indian Wells:

Montreal's Auger-Aliassime advances to Indian Wells 3rd round with straight sets victory

2 years ago

Duration 2:15

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal defeats Spain's Pedro Martinez 7-6(5), 6-4 in the second round at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif.

Auger-Aliassime rallied despite being down a break in the first set.

He smashed 10 aces to Martinez's none, but went two for 17 on break points.

Auger-Aliassime claimed the only break of the second set in the ninth game for a hard-earned victory in his first tour-level meeting with Martinez.

The eighth-seeded Auger-Aliassime will face Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo or American wild card Jack Sock in the next round.

Defending champions Fritz, Swiatek also through

Defending champion Taylor Fritz overcame a stiff challenge from fellow American young gun Ben Shelton to advance 4-6 6-4 6-3.

An energized Shelton came out firing and crushed an emphatic overhead to break serve en route to grabbing the first set as an upset appeared in the works.

But the fourth seeded Fritz converted the first break opportunity he saw on set point when Shelton dumped a forehand into the net to level the match at a set apiece.

In the final game of the match Fritz showed that he is more than a big server, hitting a brilliant lob and deft drop shot to set up match point, which he converted when Shelton's attempt to block back a ferocious forehand sailed long.

Carlos Alcaraz, the second-ranked men's player, defeated qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis, 6-3, 6-3. Alcaraz reached the semifinals in the desert last year and could return to the No. 1 spot for the first time since January if he wins the title.

On the women's side, world number one and top seed Iga Swiatek got her title defence off to a dominant start with a 6-0 6-1 thrashing of Claire Liu.

Emma Raducanu knocked out Polish 20th seed Magda Linette 7-6(3) 6-2 to notch her biggest win since triumphing at the U.S. Open in 2021.

The 20-year-old Briton fell into a 4-1 first set hole but rallied from there, dictating points with her forehand to push Linette deep into the court.

She sealed the win by whipping a forehand winner down the line to bring the fans to their feet on a warm and windy day in the Southern California desert.

Elsewhere, Czech Karolina Muchova scored an impressive 7-6(1) 6-3 win in her tournament debut over two-time champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Czech Marketa Vondrousova crushed her compatriot, the 28th-seeded Marie Bouzkova, 6-1 6-1.

On the men's side, Italian 11th seed Jannik Sinner beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3 7-6(2), Jack Draper won an all-British battle against 24th seed Dan Evans 6-4 6-2 and Swiss Stan Wawrinka beat 26th seed Czech Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(8) 6-4.

Andy Murray beat Radu Albot, 6-4, 6-3 in his first straight-set victory of the year to set up a third-round match with Draper.

WATCH | Shapovalov ousted in straight sets in 2nd round:

Early exit at Indian Wells by Canada's Denis Shapovalov

2 years ago

Duration 1:12

France's Ugo Humbert defeated Denis Shapovalov in straight sets 7-5, 6-4 eliminating the Richmond Hill, Ontario native at the PNB Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.