Cerúndolo bid farewell to the Indian Wells Masters 1000 after losing a marathon to Shelton

The Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo He played one of his best matches of the year, but it wasn’t enough and he said goodbye to the Indian Wells Masters 1000 in the early hours of Monday after losing a marathon to the American Ben Shelton.

Cerúndolo faced a tough challenge in the third round with a tight duel against the explosive Shelton (no. 16), one of the brightest promises of North American tennis who reached the semifinals of the latest edition of the US Open.

In an epic and thrilling two-hour and 43-minute match, the last of the day in the Californian desert and finishing at almost 3:30 in the morning in Argentina, Shelton ultimately won 7-6(5), 3-6 and 7-6(5).

A curious fact: both won the same number of points: 111 and Buenos Aires scored 23 winning points and saved 9 out of 10 break points. However, he failed to gain strength in either tie-break and remained at empty hands. Shelton won’t have an easy life on the next occasion: the Italian Jannik Sinner, n. 3 in the world undefeated in 2024.

The Argentine delegation of the first Masters 1000 of the season has one representative left in the men’s team. Regard Sebastiano Baez (no. 19), who started 2024 with great strength having been proclaimed champion of the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro and the ATP 250 in Santiago de Chile.

On Monday – the duel is scheduled for 5.30pm – he will also face the American in the third round. Taylor Fritz (n. 12), who conquered Indian Wells in 2022, beating the Spaniards in the final Rafael Nadal.

On Sunday, in addition to Sinner, some noteworthy contenders such as the Spaniard qualified for the round of 16 Carlos Alcaraz (no. 2), German Alexander Zverev (No. 6) or the Australian Alex de Minaur (No. 10).

Instead the Russian remained on the road. Andrei Rublev (n. 5), surpassed by the Czech Jiri Lehecka (n. 32).

Podoroska’s farewell

It was a farewell Sunday for Argentina too Nadia Podoroska (no. 84), who lost 6-1 and 6-1 in an hour and a minute against the Russian Anastasia Potapova (No. 33).

In the women’s draw, the Polish team advanced Iga Swiatek (n. 1) and the round of 16 will experience a very interesting face-to-face between two veteran tennis players who have returned to the front row of the circuit: the German Angelique Kerber and Danish Caroline Wozniacki. Yes, two moms face to face in the California desert.

Source: EFE