Grigor Dimitrov crashes out, Dominic Thiem and Hyeon Chung fight back

ATP Tour

Shahida Jacobs
March 11, 2018

Grigor Dimitrov was an early casualty at the Indian Wells Masters, while Dominic Thiem and Hyeon Chung didn’t have it all their own way.

Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco upset the fourth-seeded Dimitrov 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and six minutes to book his third-round ticket.

Both players lost their serve once in the opening set, but it was Verdasco who held his nerve in the tie-breaker.

However, Dimitrov immediately hit back in the second set as he broke twice in the opening three games to go 3-0 ahead and, although his opponent claimed one break back, he still squared it at one-set each.

The decisive break of the match game in the eighth game of the third set and Verdasco then served it out to set up a clash against Tayor Fritz after the American upset 27th seed Andrey Rublev 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

Meanwhile, Thiem was taken to three sets by up-and-coming youngster Stefanos Tsitsipas in his opening match, winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

After breezing through the opening set, the world No 6 found himself a break down early in the second with Tsitsipas going on to level things up.

However, he regained his rhythm in the decider to secure his place in the third round.

Australian Open semi-finalist Chung also needed three sets to beat Dusan Lajovic, winning 6-7 (9-11), 6-3, 6-3 in two hours and 48 minutes.

Earlier this evening…@hyeonchung skillfully finds his way into the third round 6-7(9) 6-3 6-3 over Lajovic.#BNPPO18 pic.twitter.com/UaouPj6ViF

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 11, 2018

US Open runner-up and seventh seed Kevin Anderson also advanced as he beat Evgeny Donskoy 7-5, 6-4, the 12th seeded Tomas Berdych claimed a straightforward 6-1, 6-4 win over German Maximillian Narterer while Pablo Cuevas beat Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (7-4,) 6-3.

However, 16th seed Fabio Fognini lost against Jeremy Chardy as he went down 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.