Daniil Medvedev beat Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-2 in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open, the Russian’s first tournament since ascending to No. 1 in the world. (More Tennis News)
Medvedev made quick work of his Czech opponent, finishing Machac off in just over an hour. The Russian won 80% of his first-serve points and saved the lone break point he faced.
Rafael Nadal didn't have it as easy in opening his pursuit of a fourth title at Indian Wells. He got pushed to the limit by practice partner Sebastian Korda before winning 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (3), giving Nadal a 16-0 record this year.
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"I started to play a little bit more crosscourt with my forehand and with having a little bit more of calm," Nadal said. “He made a couple mistakes and I was able to save myself."
Nadal won the Australian Open in January for his record 21st major championship, breaking a tie with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. He won other titles in Melbourne and in Mexico.
Nadal trailed 5-2 in the third set before winning four straight games with two breaks of Korda to take a 6-5 lead. Korda held at 6-all to force the tiebreaker. The 38th-ranked Korda led 3-2 and then Nadal reeled off five straight points to close out the 2 1/2-hour match.
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"He’s one of the greatest players of all time. He’s super hot. Hasn’t lost a match this year,” Korda said. “To kind of push him to the edge was awesome. Shows a lot of my game, how dangerous it can be against tough opponents.”
Before the match, Nadal withdrew from the Miami Open, which begins March 21. He is managing a chronic condition in his left foot.
Earlier this week, Medvedev received a trophy commemorating his status atop the ATP Tour rankings. He displaced Djokovic, who wasn’t allowed to enter the U.S. to play because he’s not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Medvedev has to reach the quarterfinals in the desert to stay in the top spot.
"If I’m going to lose it because I’m either going to play a bad match or my opponent is going to play an amazing one, there is the next tournament in Miami,” he said. “That’s how tennis is, every week is a new story. Right now it’s Indian Wells week and I want to make it a good story.”
Medvedev is among players from Russia and Belarus competing at Indian Wells without flags, symbols or anthems as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The decision to eliminate their national identity was made by the International Tennis Federation and both tours.
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"It’s definitely not for me to decide,” Medvedev said. “I follow the rules. I want to play my favorite sport.”
Other seeded men's winners were: No. 8 Casper Ruud, defending champion Cameron Norrie, No. 15 Roberto Bautista Agut, No. 17 Reilly Opelka and No. 19 Carlos Alcaraz.
In women's play, Jasmine Paolini upset second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the second round for the Italian's first career win over a top-10 player. Sabalenka fired eight aces to go with 10 double faults.
"After the first set I didn’t expect to win the match,” Paolini said. “But then point by point I started to believe it. I started to hit better the ball, deeper on the court.”
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Ranked 46th, Paolini won her first WTA Tour singles title last year and reached the top 50 after the Australian Open.
Defending champion Paula Badosa beat Tereza Martincova 6-2, 7-6 (4). Badosa's title in the desert in October began her rise from 70th in the world to the top 10.
No. 9 Ons Jabeur lost to 409th-ranked Daria Saville 7-5, 6-7 (0), 6-4. Shelby Rogers, a quarterfinalist here last year, knocked out 10th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 7-6 (7).
Other seeded winners were: No. 4 Anett Kontaveit, No. 6 Maria Sakkari and No. 27 Petra Kvitova.
