Sunday had some intriguing matchups featuring Canada’s top players on the men’s side.
Félix Auger-Aliassime needed to come back from a set down against fellow Montrealer Gabriel Diallo in the BNP Paribas Open third round, while Canadian No. 3 Denis Shapovalov came out short against world No. 2 Jannik Sinner.
Auger-Aliassime won the all-Canadian clash in round three, defeating Diallo 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3. The Canadian No. 1 was only broken once in the match, saving three of four break points he faced and winning 81 per cent of his first-serve points. The world No. 9 forced four losses of serve, one when Diallo was serving for the opening set and another which wrapped up the match.
The Canadians kept their rallies short and sweet in the early stages of the contest, with only two points in the first five games lasting more than five hits.
Diallo took control of the set with a break in the sixth game to lead 4-2 and nearly sealed the opener in his next return game. The Canadian No. 2 held set point at 2-5, partially thanks to Auger-Aliassime’s three double faults in the game, but Diallo couldn’t convert.
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Auger-Aliassime’s late push then extended the set, winning eight of the next nine points to even the opener at five apiece. Both players held to love, forcing a tiebreaker.
Nothing separated the countrymen through the first ten points but a Diallo mini-break set him up with his second set point. The 24-year-old capped off the opening set with his one of his 11 aces on the night as Diallo took a lead into the second.
Auger-Aliassime was in some trouble early in the new set, at risk of going down a break once again in the match at 1-1, 15-40. However, a deft half-volley and an unreturned serve helped save both before the Canadian No. 1 held.
The same opportunity presented itself to Auger-Aliassime in the following game at 1-2, 15-40, and the 25-year-old converted on the second try to take a 3-1 advantage. Auger-Aliassime held the rest of the way, conceding just four first-serve points in the set to force a decider.
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The world No. 9 got off to the perfect start in the third, dropping just one point through the first two games to take a quick 2-0 lead. Auger-Aliassime didn’t face much trouble on his delivery until the eighth game where he needed nearly 16 minutes to hold and go one-game away from a spot in the last 16.
At 5-3, Auger-Aliassime erased a 40-15 hole and later held match point. The Canadian No. 1’s backhand was too much for Diallo’s volley to handle as the Montrealers embraced at the net, ending the all-Canadian clash.
Auger-Aliassime is through to the Indian Wells fourth round for the first time since 2023, when he reached the quarters. The Canuck will meet Arthur Fils on Tuesday for a spot in the final eight.
Shapovalov’s Run Ends to Sinner in Indian Wells Round Three
Jannik Sinner proved too much for Denis Shapovalov on Sunday. The Canadian No. 3 was defeated 6-3, 6-2 by the world No. 2 in the BNP Paribas Open third round.
Following big wins over Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 29 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Shapovalov couldn’t earn his second-career win over Sinner. The 26-year-old from Richmond Hill ran into some unforced-error trouble, finishing with 25, and committed seven double faults in the match, seven of them came in games where he was broken.
Neither player won a point on their delivery in each of their opening service games, getting a combined one first serve in play as the two traded breaks to start.
Both players’ serve settled into the match with Sinner firing two aces in the fifth game for the love hold and 3-2 lead. Shapovalov also cruised to a hold in the ensuing game, but his double-fault tally slowly grew, recording three in as many service games.
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At 3-4, the Canadian committed three more double faults, leading to a couple of break opportunities for Sinner. Shapovalov saved one at 30-40 but the Italian later extended his lead with the break.
Sinner jumped out to 40-love when serving for the opener at 5-3. Shapovalov kept the set alive for a couple rallies thanks to a pair of winners before the world No. 2 sealed the first.
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The Canuck was back under pressure in the opening game of the second set, saving two break points but not a third. Then, at 3-2, Sinner found another gear, winning 12 points on the fly to move onto the last 16 in Indian Wells.
Feature Photo: Sarah-Jade Champagne
