Indian Wells: Humbert, Mannarino and Monfils in the third round, Burel frustrated, Djokovic lost a set

Indian Wells: Humbert, Mannarino and Monfils in the third round, Burel frustrated, Djokovic lost a set

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The top two Frenchmen in the ATP rankings qualified for the rest of the US Masters 1000, as did Arthur Fils, strong against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

France Télévisions – Sports editorial

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After a disappointing night for the French on Friday, the French tennis champions responded on Saturday, March 9, at the California tournament in Indian Wells. Ugo Humbert (14th in the world) and Adrian Mannarino (21st) kept their places, while Clara Burel (47th) and Océane Dodin (85th) fell with honors against higher ranked opponents. In total, six of the nine registered Tricolores qualified for the rest of the tournament.

Monfils brilliant against Hurkacz

Gaël Monfils excelled against the 8th player in the world, Hubert Hurkacz from Poland. The 37-year-old Frenchman, ranked 54th in the world, needed three sets (6-0, 6-7, 6-2) to confirm his best win of the season, after the night match. His last success against a member of the Top 10 was in August 2023 against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas during the Masters 1000 in Toronto.

“I feel that I’m playing well, I feel that I’m moving better and better, it allows me to create a tactic where I feel good, where I can bother those players. I had good momentum today (SATURDAY)a good start helps, I surfed it and managed to hold it well”, Monfils commented. “I’m gradually gaining strength. I’m happy, the match was well won”, he continued. In the next round, Gaël Monfils will face British Cameron Norrie (28), the winner of the 2021 tournament, on Monday for a place in the round of 16.

Djokovic imperfect, but victorious

A triumphant return. The Serbian, world number one, Novak Đoković, who has not played in this tournament since 2019, and has not won it since 2016 (after 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2015), played on Saturday against Australian Aleksandar Vukić ( 69. ), winning 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. Welcomed back to the United States, despite not having been vaccinated against Covid-19, Djokovic was not perfect against Vukic, who often held exchanges against his prestigious opponent.

The Australian especially won the second set with a brilliant laser return to the line, which is Djokovic’s usual specialty. But the world No.1, who has not played since his Australian Open semi-final elimination in January, managed to tighten the match at the right time to avoid too much trouble. With this new victory, the Serbian woman won her 400th match at the Masters 100 tournament. Finally, the world No. 2 player Aryna Sabalenka came close to leaving, and saved four match points against the American Peyton Stearns in a close battle of three hours (6-7 , 6 -2, 7-6).

Humbert, Mannarino and Fils at a meeting

The French number 1, Ugo Humbert (14th), provided a very serious match by getting rid of the American Patrick Kypson (151st) in two sets (6-4, 6-4). Messin, who broke into the world’s top 15 last week after winning the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai, showed great mastery of his service games and continued his good momentum.

For his part, Adrian Mannarino (21st) swept Czech Tomas Machac (63rd) in two sets (6-1, 6-2) and barely more than an hour of play, the French number 2 managed to play his game without worried about the opponent who defeated Stanislas Wawrinka in the first round. A little later, Arthur Fils (43rd) was very serious against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (23rd), winning in two sets (6-3, 6-4). This is the second time he has dominated the Spaniard on hard court in as many meetings. Alexandre Müller, for his part, did not last the distance against Grigor Dimitrov (7-5, 6-2).

Garcia OK, Burel KO

Heartbreaking. Clara Burel, the French number 2 (47th), provided a great match in the competition with the third tennis player in the world, Coco Gauff, but was finally defeated after more than two hours of play (2-6, 6-3, 7-6 ( 7- 4)). The Breton pushed the American to the limit, taking a 4-0 lead in the deciding set. An advantage that was not enough to defeat the Atlanta native who did not give up until the last tie-break.

“It’s important how you behave on bad days, not on good days”, philosophized the young star, the last winner of the US Open, who will celebrate her 20th birthday on Wednesday. Clara Burel is also confirming her rise in power, after claiming her first win against a top 10 player at the Australian Open in January, defeating No.5 Jessica Pegula.

Océane Dodin (85th) also failed to shake up the hierarchy against the world’s 12th player Daria Kasatkina, who beat her without hesitation despite a tight second set (6-3, 7-6). Diane Parry (61st) defeated Canadian Leylah Fernandez (22nd) in three sets after a tough fight (7-5, 5-7, 6-2). The first French champion, Caroline Garcia (26th), was finally convinced after four defeats in a row. She successfully entered the competition, not without fear, eliminating Bulgarian Viktorija Tomova (75th) in three sets (6-1, 3-6, 6-3).

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