Frenchmen Lucas Pouille and Constant Lestienne crashed out in the second round of the Masters 1000 on Friday, as did compatriot Varvara Gracheva in the women’s draw.
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After a flawless performance for the French camp on Thursday, the next day was more complicated. Frenchmen Constant Lestienne and Lucas Pouille were defeated on Friday, March 8, in the second round of the Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells (California, United States). Carlos Alcaraz was pushed to three rounds, while Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, the defending champion, announced her retirement.
Constant Lestienne, out of the qualifiers, then the winner of his first round, suffered a two-set upset from ATP No. 31 Félix Auger-Aliassime (6-4, 6-1), who will meet the champion in the third round . Spanish title Carlos Alcaraz.
Lucas Pouille, who is hoping for a permanent return to a high level, was dominated by world number 11, Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-3, 6-2). The northerner did not get a single break ball, never once did he find the key against an opponent who dominated him for the fourth time in as many meetings.
French Varvara Gracheva (68th) lost in the first round (6-4, 6-1) to China’s Yue Yuan (49th), the winner of the WTA 250 tournament in Austin (Texas) last week. A little lightening in that gray, however: the victory of Alexandre Müller, who defeated compatriot Hugo Grenier (7-6, 7-5), who eliminated him in the first round of the Australian Open in January. “I’m happy to win, I lost a cruel match in Australia with two match points, there was a bit of tension from my side, I’m happy to get over it,” reacted Müller, who will face Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov (13th) in the next round.
Title holders in a difficult
For their part, the title holders were not even at the party to mark their entry into the race. World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz needed three sets against Italy’s No. 40 Matteo Arnaldi (6-7, 6-0, 6-1) to enter the tournament in the second round, and the heads-up series is exempt from the first match. Irregularly, Alcaraz rowed the entire first round, where he did get an early break. But the Spaniard then rolled forward to win the next two.
On the other hand, Carlos Alcaraz did not show any effects after spraining his right ankle two weeks ago in Rio. Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime is waiting for him in the third round. But the Spaniard has not been completely reassuring, as he has not won a tournament since Wimbledon in July 2023. “I was surprised by the conditions in the first set. I trained a lot during the day because of the heat, but at night it doesn’t matter, the bounces are different. It cost me the first set, announced the winner at the press conference. I was a bit nervous too, it was my first high-intensity match after the ankle problem, I had problems with full concentration.” he added again.
Her setbacks ultimately paled in comparison to those of the other title holder in “tennis paradise,” Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, who announced her retirement in the afternoon. “It is with great sadness that I have to announce that I will not be able to participate in the Indian Wells tournament this year due to intestinal problems,” he said announced the 24-year-old player, world number 4 and winner of Wimbledon 2022.
Other favorites are soothing
Other favorites were confident and calm, like world number 1 Iga Swiatek, who defeated American Danielle Collins (6-3, 6-0). Italian Jannik Sinner (3rd), a sensation at the beginning of the season by winning the Australian Open, celebrated with the same result against Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis. “Obviously I’m happy, it was a tough game, contrary to what the result shows, commented the 22-year-old, still unbeaten in 2024 with 13 wins. I have confidence. But it can quickly go in the wrong direction. I hope to continue my streak as long as possible, but it could end in two days.” he emphasized further.
On Saturday, especially Novak Đoković and Coco Gauff will enter the fight to stay and finish the second round.