Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Indian Wells, March 15
Yuki Bhambri’s stupendous run at the Indian Wells Masters came to an end following his defeat to American world No. 21 Sam Querrey in the third round.
The Indian qualifier, ranked 110, pushed his opponent before bowing out with a 7-6(4) 4-6 4-6 loss, which came after an intense battle lasting two hours and 20 minutes. The 25-year-old Indian saved 11 of the 15 breakpoints in the gruelling match. The 45 ranking points he earned by making the third round and 16 from the qualifying event are likely to push Bhambri back to top-100 when the new rankings are issued on Monday. Bhambri said playing Frenchman Pouille and Querrey was very different.
“They were completely different opponent. Sam has bigger serve and relies a lot on it. That was the difference today. He bailed himself out on a lot of points. Losing serve early in the third set was tough as I was playing catching up after that and it was more difficult against a big server,” Bhambri said.
Del Potro wins
Juan Martin del Potro beat David Ferrer 6-4 7-6 (7/3) to book a spot in the fourth round as second seed Marin Cilic suffered a shock loss to Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 4-6 4-6. Milos Raonic beat Portugal’s Joao Sousa 7-5 4-6 6-2.
Halep, Venus in quarters, Wozniacki falls
World No. 1 Simona Halep and Venus Williams punched their tickets to the Indian Wells quarterfinals, while Caroline Wozniacki suffered another exit at the hands of Russia’s rising star Daria Kasatkina. Halep breezed through her fourth round match with a 7-5 6-1 win over China’s Wang Qiang and Venus Williams beat Anastasija Sevastova 7-6 (8/6) 6-4. The 20-year-old Kasatkina beat world No. 2 Wozniacki 6-4, 7-5.
