Australian wildcard Nick Kyrgios has powered into the second round at the Indian Wells Masters 1000 tournament.
Indian Wells, USA, 11 March 2022 | Leigh Rogers
Nick Kyrgios has made a promising tour return, scoring a straight-sets victory against Argentina’s Sebastian Baez in opening-round action at Indian Wells today.
Contesting his first tournament since the Australian Open, Kyrgios posted a commanding 6-4 6-0 win against the world No.60.
The Australian wildcard struck 12 aces in the 72-minute clash, helping him record his first top-100 singles victory of the season.
The 26-year-old Kyrgios, currently ranked No.132, now plays No.32-seeded Argentine Federico Delbonis in the second round.
Too strong tonight ♨️
In just his 3rd match of the year, @NickKyrgios powers past Baez 6-4 6-0 on a windy night in the desert!#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/mp8BCBfDXG
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 11, 2022
Qualifier Daria Saville continued her impressive run, recording a third consecutive win in the Californian desert.
The 28-year-old Aussie posted a 6-3 6-2 victory against China’s Zhang Shuai in women’s singles first-round action. It snapped a five-match winning streak for world No.41 Zhang, who had claimed her third career WTA singles title in France last week.
Saville, currently ranked No.409 as she returns from an extended injury lay-off, will face ninth-seeded Tunisian Ons Jabeur in the second round.
Making strides in the desert 🌴@Daria_gav advances to the @BNPPARIBASOPEN second round after a 6-3 6-2 win over Shuai Zhang. #GoAussies pic.twitter.com/NJSDp6O9ez
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) March 10, 2022
Astra Sharma has also progressed to the second round. The 26-year-old from Perth made the most of a lucky loser spot in the draw, defeating world No.62 Magda Linette of Poland 6-4 7-6(1).
It propels world No.96 Sharma into a second-round meeting with 2021 finalist and No.13 seed Victoria Azarenka.
Aussies in action – Indian Wells
TODAY’S RESULTS
Women’s singles, first round
[Q] Daria Saville (AUS) d Zhang Shuai (CHN) 6-3 6-2
[LL] Astra Sharma (AUS) d Magda Linette (POL) 6-4 7-6(1)
Men’s singles, first round
[WC] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) d Sebastian Baez (ARG) 6-4 6-0
COMING UP
Men’s singles, first round
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v David Goffin (BEL)
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v [Q] Tomas Machac (CZE)
[Q] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Sebastian Korda (USA)
Men’s singles, second round
[29] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v TBC
[WC] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) v [32] Federico Delbonis (ARG)
Women’s singles, second round
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v [26] Sorana Cirstea (ROU)
[Q] Daria Saville (AUS) v [9] Ons Jabeur (TUN)
[LL] Astra Sharma (AUS) v [13] Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
Men’s doubles, first round
[5] John Peers (AUS)/Filip Polasek (SVK) v Marcelo Arevalo (ESA)/Jean-Julien Rojer (NED)
[WC] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)/Nick Kyrgios (AUS) v Ivan Dodig (CRO)/Marcelo Melo (BRA)
Women’s doubles, first round
[2] Sam Stosur (AUS)/Zhang Shuai (CHN) v Alize Cornet (FRA)/Leylah Fernandez (CAN)
[8] Storm Sanders (AUS)/Caroline Dolehide (USA) v Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR)/Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)/Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Petra Martic (CRO)/Shelby Rogers (USA)
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