Indian Wells Masters: Alexander Zverev, Andy Murray crash in 2nd round

Sport

Indian Wells Masters: Alexander Zverev lost in the 2nd round to Tommy Paul while Andy Murray was shown the door in the 2nd round of the Masters 1000 tournament.

Alexander Zverev’s ordinary form in 2022 continues (AP Photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Alexander Zverev lost in the 2nd round against Tommy Paul in three sets
  • Zverev’s form was decent in the new season
  • Andy Murray lost to Alexander Bublik in Indian Wells

Alexander Zverev was eliminated in the 2nd round of the Indian Wells Masters when he lost to lower-ranked Tommy Paul of the United States on Sunday. Zverev lost 2: 6, 6: 4, 6: 7 (2), despite leading 4: 2 in the decider.

World No. 3 Zverev’s poor form continued as the German star failed to finish tournaments with the exception of the ATP 250 event in Montpellier in February. Zverev, who was eliminated in the round of 16 at the Australian Open, was defaulted in Acapulco for an attack on the chair umpire’s chair.

“I started well, going to the net a ton and putting a lot of pressure on his serve,” Paul said in an on-court interview.

“He served really well there in the second set and even the third, but I got a bit lucky there when I paused. We always take them,” he said, laughing.

Next up for Paul is a third-round clash with Alex de Minaur, who defeated fellow Australian John Millman 7-6(4), 6-3.

MURRAY ousted

Earlier in the day, big serve Alexander Bublik retaliated against Andy Murray, beating the former world number one 7-6 (9) 6-3 to earn his first win over the Scot in three career meetings.

Bublik won the first set tiebreak to seize the momentum and worked his way to the finish line as Murray failed to convert any of his six break point opportunities.

Kazakhstan sealed the win with a skillful drop shot on match point that Murray couldn’t reach.

Bublik stood and joined the crowd to applaud the three-time Major champion, who was celebrating his 700th career win on Friday, as he left the court.

Murray, who defeated Bublik in straight sets in Rotterdam in February, had to wonder what could have been.

“Of course we both had a few chances in the tie-break, but I certainly created more chances in the first set and didn’t take them,” said Murray.

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