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Daniil Medvedev holds off comeback to advance at Indian Wells

US Open champion overcomes Krajinovic and the weather to set up Dimitrov clash

US Open champion Daniil Medvedev will take on Grigor Dimitrov in the last-16 of the BNP Paribas Open. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
US Open champion Daniil Medvedev will take on Grigor Dimitrov in the last-16 of the BNP Paribas Open. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Tue Oct 12 2021 - 10:37

Top seed Daniil Medvedev withstood a late fightback by Filip Krajinovic to reach the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

The newly-crowned US Open champion was also forced to overcome a lengthy rain delay before posting a 6-2 7-6 (1) victory to set up a last-16 clash with Grigor Dimitrov.

Medvedev had looked set for an early night as he surged into a 4-0 lead and proceeded to take the first set with the minimum of fuss.

But he was given pause for thought as the Serbian broke twice in succession to establish a 4-2 lead in the second set, before Medvedev rallied to wrap up victory.

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Former world number three Dimitrov toppled American 16th seed Reilly Opelka 6-3 6-4 to earn his crack at Russian Medvedev.

American Tommy Paul extended his superb run at the tournament as he overcame fourth seed Andrey Rublev to reach the last 16.

The world number 60 held his nerve to win 6-4 3-6 7-5 and book a meeting in the next round with fellow rising star Cameron Norrie.

The British number two extended his fine hard-court season after reaching the final in San Diego earlier this month as he saw off Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 5-7 6-3.

Sixth seed Casper Ruud, who sunk Norrie in San Diego, will play Diego Schwartzman in the round of 16 after hitting back to beat South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 6-7 (4) 6-4 6-4.

Norwegian Ruud saved all eight break points against him to outlast Harris in nearly three hours and extend his winning run to nine matches.

World number 15 Schwartzman, seeded 11 in Indian Wells, also came back from a set down to defeat British number one Dan Evans 5-7 6-4 6-0.

The Argentinian lost the first set and was broken early in the second to trail 3-1 and 4-2 before turning the match around.

Russian 19th seed Aslan Karatsev overcame ninth-seeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov 7-5 6-2 and Poland’s 12th seed Hubert Hurkacz swept past American Frances Tiafoe 6-3 6-2.

Italy’s Jannik Sinner earned a free ride through to the fourth round after American John Isner withdrew from the tournament to attend the birth of his third child.