Indian Wells: Tsitsipas storms into third round with straight set win over Martinez
Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the third round in Indian Wales for the first time in his career on Sunday, defeating Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-2 6-4 under the lights to set up a meeting with Fabio Fognini.
The Greek broke serve to take a 2-0 lead in the first set, which he easily won, but his unseeded opponent made him work much harder in the second.
Martinez, who had lost the pair’s only previous meeting in straight sets at Roland Garros earlier this year, was determined to take Tsitsipas all the way, breaking early in the second set to go up 3-1. Tsitsipas, the runner-up in the French Open, immediately regained his form and finished the tournament in style.
“Well, it’s been a great night for me. The first time playing a night session here on this court,” Tsitsipas, who is competing in the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in the Southern California desert for the third time, said.
Tsitsipas hit 23 winners throughout the match, including 12 in the second set, and only made six unforced errors.
Tsitsipas said, “I’m pretty happy with the way I fought and found a way to clinch that victory at the end,” before turning his attention to Italian Fognini, who defeated German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 4-6 6-3.
Tsitsipas added, “I’ve played Fognini before,” referring to their two prior encounters, both of which the Greek won in straight sets. “I’m looking forward to that match.”
