Alcaraz, Swiatek, Raducanu and Sinner in the third round

(Indian Wells) In the wake of Carlos Alcaraz, contender for the “Iberian-motivated” world throne, and Iga Swiatek, defending champion in a great hurry, the young guard also played by Jannik Sinner and Emma Raducanu, took to the highway for the third round of the Indian Wells tournament on Saturday.

In the absence of boss Novak Djokovic, prevented from entering the United States because he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19, his Spanish dolphin can redraw the hierarchy if he wins in the Californian desert, where he reached the last square last year.

On his debut, he beat Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 6-3 (94^e).

A reassuring start on the physical level for the winner of the United States Open last September, who withdrew from Acapulco last week due to pain in the right hamstring, the same where he was injured in January, which had forced him to give up the Australian Open.

Alcaraz did not betray any embarrassment and he did not hold back in his accelerations or his races, even if Kokkinakis did not really have the possibility of jostling him and even less of getting the slightest break point.

On the road to the Spaniard will stand on Monday the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (36^e).

Jannik Sinner (13^e), rather in good shape at the moment, winner in Montpellier then finalist in Rotterdam in February, for his part started with a solid victory 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) against Richard Gasquet (43^e).

Murray and Wawrinka resist

Facing the 36-year-old Frenchman, 15 years his senior, the Italian made his power speak during a match teeming with good points, most often to his advantage. He will be opposed in the next round to another Frenchman, Adrian Mannarino (68^e), which released the seeded N.19, the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (6-4, 6-4).

Other qualifiers include defending champion Taylor Fritz (5^e), the Danish Holger Rune (8^e) and Canadian Felix-Auger Aliassime (10^e).

But, in this lot of youngsters, two veterans have not said their last word since Andy Murray (55^e) and Stan Wawrinka (100^e), both three-time Grand Slam winners, in search of their past glory after several years marred by injuries, are still in the game.

The 35-year-old Scotsman, runner-up at Indian Wells in 2009, beat Moldova’s Radu Albot (109) 6-4, 6-3^e). The 37-year-old Swiss beat 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic (26^e).

Among the women, Iga Swiatek made short work of the American Claire Liu (56^e), crushed 6-0, 6-1 in just over an hour.

The world No.1, 21, won 25 of the 32 points played in the first set. And, in the second set, she unfolded without faltering or conceding a break point.

Swiatek could have ended with a double donut, but Liu fought to save match point, and the honor, by winning a game.

Winning comeback for Jabeur

“Claire was able to take advantage of the only moment when I did not play as aggressively as I had to, but I am happy to have been able to conclude fairly quickly”, commented the winner of Roland-Garros and the United States Open. last year.

In search of a double in the Californian desert, which only Martina Navratilova managed in 1991 and 1992, she will then face the Canadian Bianca Andreescu (36^e), titled in 2019.

Emma Raducanu (77)^e), crowned at Flushing Meadows in 2021, defeated Poland’s Magda Linette 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 (21^e).

An encouraging success for the Briton, plagued by health concerns last year and even at the start of the season, since she withdrew from Austin last week due to tonsillitis.

“I am very satisfied with the way I fought,” she said, before challenging the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia (13^e).

Canadian Leylah Fernandez (49^e), also 20, an unfortunate finalist against Raducanu at the United States Open, also reached the third round. Her opponent will be the Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia (5^e), winner of the last Masters.

Finally, the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (4^e), a finalist at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year, made a successful comeback after several weeks out with a knee injury, beating 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 Polish Magdalena Frech (106^e).