Day one of the men’s singles in Indians Wells got underway on Thursday with some of the tournament’s American hopefuls finding their way into the second round.
Indian Wells Day 1 Round-Up
Play got underway with Tim Smyczek of the USA taking on German Benjamin Becker.
Smyczek started proceedings well for the home crowd, giving them something to cheer for from the off as he won the first set 6-3. The second set was a little trickier, but the support of the crowd stayed with the young American as he managed to close out the set and the match with a tiebreak, winning 6-3 7-6. Wild-card Smyczek will next face another German, Philipp Kohlschreiber, in the second round.
The second contest on centre court was an all-American clash between experienced Mardy Fish and young Ryan Harrison. Wildcard Harrison managed to take the first set, bossing play from the start, taking it 6-4. Fish, who entered the tournament with a protected ranking has not played since August 2013, but his play throughout the match was largely hampered by 52 unforced errors.
Despite his errors, Fish managed to find a way into the match, taking the second set, with a little help from Harrison who doubled faulted on set point. The third set was more of an even contest with both players breaking each other’s serve. Harrison managed to save twelve of fifteen break points against him, and save two match points to beat his compatriot 6-4 4-6 7-6 in a match lasting 2 hours and 36 minutes.
David Ferrer learned of his opponent in the second round when Ivan Dodig of Croatia managed to get past Joao Sousa comfortably 6-3 7-5 in just over 80 minutes. Dodig fired ten aces past the Portuguese player: he will need to play similarly as he did against Sousa if he is to have any luck against Ferrer in the next round.
Andy Murray also learned his opponent in the second round after Vasek Pospisil advanced as Mikhail Kukushkin had to retire due to a right elbow injury.
Recent Buenos Aires runner-up Juan Monaco also featured in Thursday’s action, treating the crowd to a two hour match lasting three sets against Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili in which he prevailed 6-2 3-6 6-3. Monaco withstood 30 winners from his talented opponent but it was the ten of fourteen break points saved by the Argentine which managed to get him through to the next round. Monaco’s win means he has booked a place in the second round to face number ten seed Marin Cilic, who hasn’t played a match this year due to injury.
There were also two players who managed to notch their first ever Masters 1000 competition win in the form of talented youngsters Borna Coric and Thanasi Kokkinakis. Coric got past Haider-Maurer 6-4 6-4 while Kokkinakis defeated Struff 7-6(3) 6-3.
Talented Cypriot and crowd favourite Marcos Baghdatis came through against Jiri Veseley with a little help from his opponent. Marcos took the first set 6-3 and at one game each into the second set Veseley had to retire from the match. Baghdatis will face Novak Djokovic in the second round. Frederico DelBonis who got the better of Dusan Lajovic 6-4 6-3 in just over an hour, he will next face Kevin Anderson the 16th seed from South Africa. Jarkko Neiminen also came through today against qualifier Theimo De Bakker 7-6(3) 6-4. The Finn will play the number 20 seed Pablo Cuevas in the second round.
Other winners to progress into the second round were Jurgen Melzer, defeated American qualifier Denis Novikov, Albert Ramos defeated Viktor Troicki, James Duckworth defeated Dominic Thiem, Daniel Gimeno-Traver defeated Sam Groth and Adrian Mannarino defeated Mischa Zverev.
Friday’s pick of the men’s action will be Sam Querry against Sergiy Stakhovsky. The big serving American should have a tough time against the talented serve and volley style of the Ukrainian. Expect a three set match.
