Brooksby Breezes Through Indian Wells Opener

  • Posted: Mar 11, 2022

Brooksby Breezes Through Indian Wells Opener

Mar102022

Americans McDonald, Sock also advance in straights

Jenson Brooksby wasted no time in making a winning start at the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday. The home favourite eased past Roberto Carballes Baena 6-1, 6-4 to reach the second round in Indian Wells.

The American thrilled the California crowd with a ruthless display against the solid Spaniard. The 21-year-old lost serve just once in his one-hour, 27-minute victory.

On his BNP Paribas Open debut last October, Brooksby impressed by pushing two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev in a tight three-set defeat in the second round. The American will try to go one step further this year when he plays 25th seed Karen Khachanov.

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In qualifying at last year’s Rolex Paris Masters, Brooksby needed three sets and more than three hours to eliminate Carballes Baena. There was no such struggle in the California desert.

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Brooksby held strong behind his second serve, which proved pivotal in the match. The two-time ATP Tour finalist, who recently advanced to the championship match at the Dallas Open, lost just two of his second-serve points.

In other action, American Mackenzie McDonald clawed past Hungarian Marton Fucsovics 7-6(11), 7-5 in two hours and 22 minutes. It is the third consecutive BNP Paribas Open in which he has reached the second round.

McDonald will next play reigning Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals champion Carlos Alcaraz, the 19th seed. It will be their first ATP Head2Head clash.

Wild card Jack Sock joined his compatriots in the second round with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The former World No. 8 will next face fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas for the first time. Sock reached No. 130 in the ATP Rankings in February, his highest position since returning from a thumb injury in 2019.

Borna Coric made his return from shoulder surgery on Thursday, facing Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the Croatian’s first match in just over a year. The Spaniard spoiled the comeback with a 6-7(5), 6-0, 7-5 victory. After defeating the former World No. 8, he will challenge 13th seed Denis Shapovalov in the second round.

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