Defending champion Novak Djokovic dispatched Marcos Baghdatis 6-1, 6-3 in 59 minutes to reach the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday, improving his record to 8-0 against the Cypriot.
Djokovic has not lost a set to Baghdatis in their last three meetings dating back to 2011. The Serb looked every inch the world’s No. 1 men’s player, connecting on 74 percent of his first serves and dictating from the baseline.
Djokovic is the defending champion at Indian Wells, where he is bidding to win his 50th career title. He’s currently tied with coach Boris Becker on 49.
Sixth-seeded Eugenie Bouchard beat Lucie Hradecka 6-2, 6-2 in two minutes less than Djokovic took on the same court. She broke the Czech six times in winning against Hradecka for the first time in three tries.
Andy Murray beat Vasek Pospisil 6-1, 6-3, with the hard-serving Canadian committing 35 unforced errors.
Two-time champion Maria Sharapova needed six match points before putting away Yanina Wickmeyer 6-1, 7-5 in her bid to become the first woman to win the tournament three times.
Kei Nishikori beat American Ryan Harrison 6-4, 6-4, while defending women’s champion Flavia Pennetta easily advanced on a 91-degree day in the desert.
Other women’s winners were: No. 4 seed Caroline Wozniacki, fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic, No. 11 Sara Errani and No. 16 Madison Keys, who got an on-court visit from her coach and former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, applauded by fans who recognized her.
On the men’s side, Juan Monaco upset No. 10 Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, while No. 16 Kevin Anderson, No. 26 Phillip Kohlschreiber and No. 28 Fernando Verdasco all won in straight sets. World No. 23 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez lost to wild-card Thanasi Kokkinakis, 6-4, 6-1 and world No. 25 Julien Benneteau was beaten by Albert Ramos-Vinolas, 6-2, 6-3.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
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Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
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