Thiem, Tsonga Battle Into Third Round

No player has won more tie-breaks in 2016 than Dominic Thiem and the top Austrian continued his run of dominance in pressure situations Sunday at the BNP Paribas Open.

Thiem improved to 12-3 in tie-breaks this year, surviving a close encounter against qualifier Jozef Kovalik 7-6(4), 7-6(3) in the second round in Indian Wells. The 11th seed fired 34 winners, including 10 aces, while claiming 84 per cent of first serve points. He prevailed after one hour and 47 minutes despite converting just one of 11 break chances. Making his third appearance in the Southern California desert, Thiem notched a tour-leading 21st match win of the year. He will face either 21st seed Jack Sock or another qualifier, Michael Berrer.

Kovalik earned his first ATP World Tour match win on Friday, defeating Pierre-Hugues Herbert, having emerged from qualifying at a Masters 1000 event for the first time.

In other action, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overcame a slow start to dismiss countryman Vincent Millot 7-5, 6-1. Tsonga saw his streak of seven consecutive appearances in Indian Wells snapped due to injury last year, but the 30 year old is back in the desert. He fell behind an early break at 3-1, but the seventh seed would reel off 12 of the next 15 games to close out the victory in just 70 minutes.

Millot was victimised by 22 unforced errors, while his fellow Frenchman converted four of seven break opportunities and won nine of 10 net points. Tsonga dominated points under five shots, claiming 41 of 69. He will square off against either California native Sam Querrey or Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker next.