ATP: Denis Shapovalov leads strong first #NextGen day in Indian Wells

After a packed first day of the men’s event at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, some second round games with a youthful flair have already been decided.

The transition from junior class to adult tennis is seldom friction-free, Alexander Zverev seems to be an exception during the last few years. Germany’s #NextGen has always been number one in Germany, but the pool of talented young talent has, of course, long since been divided. Zverev doesn’t compete in events like Indian Wells to win one or two rounds, but the title. In Rome and Montréal the native of Hamburg has already succeeded in doing so on this level.

The peers are a bit calmer – and like to take every victory with them on a 1000cc level. All the more so when the defence of a match ball was necessary on the way there. As in the purely US-American duel between Reilly Opelka and Taylor Fritz, who won the latter in three sets. I am a set and match point in the tiebreak and I honestly didn’t even know what I did wrong,”Fritz explained after his success. If someone with Opelka could rely on his serve in such a way, one must simply hold against it until a small gap opens up. Opelka and Fritz are close friends off the course, Opelka gave the best man for his buddy two years ago.

Taylor Fritz took advantage of this opportunity and won a meeting with Andrey Rublev. By the way, the only young player who has made it so far in the world rankings to be seeded in Indian Wells.

Borna Coric and Jared Donaldson are also a pair of youngsters in round two. Coric left Donald Young with only two games, and Donaldson had much more trouble with qualifying Evan King. Stefanos Tsitsipas did not harm Radu Albot, the Greek is now allowed to play Dominic Thiem as in Doha.

Finally Denis Shapovalov also showed a concentrated performance. The junior Wimbledon winner of 2016 defeated Ricardas Berankis in two sets, now challenges Pablo Cueva’s warrior. This Friday, Shapovalov will be off duty this Friday, but he may still go to Stage 2, where a Canadian duel is scheduled for the fourth game. Veteran Vasek Pospisil meets Félix Auger-Aliassime. For the buddy and temporary double partner of Shapovalov, the first opportunity to prove himself in an ATP Masters 1000 main field after surviving qualification.

Here the single panel in Indian Wells