INDIAN WELLS // World No 1 Andy Murray crashed out of the ATP Indian Wells Masters on Saturday, sent spinning in straight sets by Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil.
Pospisil, ranked 129th in the world, triumphed 6-4, 7-6, sealing the triumph on his fourth match point to delight a stadium court crowd won over by the underdog.
For Britain’s Murray, it was yet another disappointing performance in the California desert, where his best showing is a 2009 runner-up finish to Rafael Nadal.
Last year Murray was bundled out in the third round, but he was hoping for much better as he arrived fresh off his 45th career ATP title in Dubai.
“I don’t know exactly why it is, because in practice here normally I play pretty well,” Murray said. “And then some years I played well. Some years it just hasn’t quite happened for me. I don’t know exactly why that is.”
Murray was particularly disappointed to have dropped the first set after twice going up a break.
But he hurt his own cause with seven double-faults, part of a poor serving night that he said was key to the defeat.
Pospisil had never beaten Murray in four prior encounters. The 26-year-old Canadian, who defeated Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun in the first round as Murray enjoyed a bye, notched his fourth career victory over a top-10 player and his first since 2014.
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In the women’s draw Angelique Kerber, who will reclaim the world No 1 ranking on Monday, breezed to a 6-2, 6-1 second-round victory over fellow German Andrea Petkovic at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday.
Second-seed Kerber broke Petkovic to open the match and needed only 58 minutes to claim the victory in glaring sunshine in the California desert.
“It was not so easy,” said Kerber after the match. “We’ve known each other forever. It’s always tough to play against a friend.”
Fourth seed Simona Halep also won emphatically, 6-4, 6-1 over Donna Vekic.
Halep, the 2015 champion, broke her Croatian opponent no fewer than seven times.
“My serve is not that big but I like to return. I’m really proud of it,” Romanian Halep said.
“I’m not very powerful but I have a little bit the technique and the angles. I love this place. I have great results here.”
While Kerber and Halep won in quick fashion, American 12th seed Venus Williams beat Serbian Jelena Jankovic in a dramatic battle between former world No 1s.
Jankovic raced through the first set and seemed poised for an upset, but the second set tiebreak proved pivotal, as Williams survived, staving off three match points en route to a 1-6, 7-6, 6-1 victory.
“It ain’t over til’ it’s over, and I didn’t see no fat lady singing,” said Williams, who played with her left thigh heavily strapped.
Another American, ninth seed Madison Keys, made a winning return in her 2017 debut, triumphing 6-1, 7-5 over Mariana Duque-Marino of Colombia.
Keys missed the Australian Open in January while recovering from wrist surgery.
“It felt really good,” Keys said. “I really, really missed competing and being able to go out there and get a win on top of it was amazing.”
Former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki also advanced, the 13th seeded Dane turning back qualifier Magda Linette of Poland 6-3, 6-0.
* Agencies
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