INDIAN WELLS (AFP) – Reigning Grand Slam champions Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz turned in dominating performances on Sunday to roll into the fourth round of the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters.
The two hottest young racquets in the sport showed no mercy in quick-fire victories, with Australian Open champion Sinner overwhelming Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-4.
“Almost perfect” Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon champion, stepped up his Indian Wells title defence with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The world number two Spaniard allowed his Canadian opponent no room to move, reaching the fourth round with his eighth match win in a row at the event. A pair of women’s veterans showed new life in maternity comebacks.
“It was almost the perfect match for me,” said Alcaraz, who broke Auger-Aliassime’s serve four times. “I moved well, played aggressive and had less mistakes.”
Sinner was equally ruthless as he attacked Struff, with the Italian winning his 17th match in succession dating to his country’s Davis Cup victory in November.
Sinner fired 27 winners past Struff, whose style gave the third seed a target on court.
“We prepared very well, I tried to learn his moves,” Sinner said. “I played well and served well under pressure.
“Overall I can be really happy about today, I felt really good on the court.”
