Nick Kyrgios says he is feeling ‘good and confident’ after starting his campaign at the BNP Paribas with an emphatic first round win.
Kyrgios, who is playing in his first tournament since the Australian Open, swept aside Argentina’s Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-0. A player who is currently ranked more than 60 places higher than him in the rankings. Kyrgios managed to dominate the match with the help of 12 aces as he saved all four break points he faced. After coming through a close opening set where he broke Baez five games in, he raced through the second in just 27 minutes.
“It was good to be back. I haven’t played in the desert (Indian Wells) for almost two, three years, so just good to be back feeling healthy,” Kyrgios said.
“I love this place. It’s relaxing, it’s very different to every other event and just to be playing good tennis … that guy’s (Baez) 60 in the world but I know what I’m capable of.
“I know if I play my game, serve well, I’ve had success here and in Miami. So I feel good and I feel confident.”
Indian Wells is the first tournament Kyrgios has played outside of his native Australian since September. Heading into this week, the 26-year-old had only won one match this season which was against Liam Broady in the first round of the Australian Open before losing to Daniil Medvedev. However, at the same tournament he won the doubles title alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Despite a lack of match play in recent weeks, Kyrgios is confident that he can still pose a threat in Indian Wells where he is making his fifth main draw appearance. In the second round he will lock horns with 32nd seed Federico Delbonis. The Argentine reached the semi-finals of the Buenos Aires Open last month but has failed to win back-to-back matches in the five other tournaments he has played so far this year prior to Indian Wells.
“I played him in the Australian Open one year and I won in five sets, so he’s tough,” Kyrgios said.
“He’s a tough left-lander and he plays well in these conditions. He’s had a couple of good wins here so he’s a great competitor too.”
Also through to the last 64 is Fabio Fognini who has officially become the most successful Italian male player in history when it comes to Tour matches won. Fognini came back from a set down to oust Pablo Andujar 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, to record his 392nd Tour win. Moving him past 1976 French Open champion Adriano Panatta who recorded 391 wins during his career. Fognini has won more matches than Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini combined.
“It’s nice for sure. I didn’t know before the match, believe me,” Fognini told ATPTour.com. “They are just statistics, but of course I’m happy. Now they compare me to the big ones. Adriano was an idol when I was young, so I’m really happy. It’s not the end. I’ll continue fighting and let’s see what happens.”
As the sun started to set in the Californian desert, Sebastian Korda took to the court in a late-night tussle with Kokkinakis. The world No.38 prevailed 6-3, 6-4, to claim his maiden main draw win at the tournament and set up a mouthwatering clash with Rafael Nadal who is on a 15-match winning streak. Korda will be hoping to do better against the Spaniard than their first meeting at last year’s French Open where he could only win four games.
Finally, Borna Coric’s return to competitive tennis following a 12-month absence due to injury ended in defeat. The former top 20 player snatched the opener before losing 6-7(5), 6-0, 7-5, to Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
