Galvanised Garin Stuns Ruud In Indian Wells

Cristian Garin made it 10 sets played, 10 sets won at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open on Sunday afternoon. It is the Chilean’s latest straight-sets victory that may make the rest of the field sit up and take notice at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells.

The former World No. 17 Garin, who came through two qualifying matches to book a spot in the main draw in Indian Wells, sealed a 6-4, 7-6(2) victory against third seed Casper Ruud to reach the fourth round for the first time at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

“With a full stadium, and to play like this today against Casper, who is one of the players that I really admire on Tour, I am so, so happy to keep playing like that,” said Garin. “Aggressive, going to the net, I think that’s the way that I like to play and the only way that I have to beat these kinds of players. I’m just so happy and I want to keep improving and keep enjoying this tournament.”

After qualifying without losing a set and then dropping just 10 games across his opening two main-draw matches, the Chilean showed few nerves when presented with his toughest test yet in California. He outhit Ruud by 39 winners to 17 to notch his third win against a Top 10 opponent, his first since 2021, and his first on a hard court.

Garin will look to keep his run going in Indian Wells when he takes on 13th seed Karen Khachanov or 23rd seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina next. Should he triumph, he would advance to his fourth ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final after also reaching that stage at the 2019 Rolex Paris Masters, the 2021 Mutua Madrid Open, and the 2022 Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

More to follow…