(Indian Wells) Denis Shapovalov, 13^and seeded, made a comeback at the Indian Wells tournament on Saturday by beating Davidovich Fokina in three sets of 4-6, 6-4 and 6-2. He will face American Reilly Opelka in the third round.

In the evening, Quebecer Leylah Annie Fernandez, 18^and seeded, won her match by abandonment of her opponent, the American Amanda Anisimova. After dropping the first set 2-6, Fernandez had bounced back to snatch the second set 7-6 (0).

Fernandez will face another American, Shelby Rogers, in the third round.

Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev, the two favorites at Indian Wells, took different paths to advance to 3^and turn on Saturday for their entry into the running.

The Spaniard played scary against American Sebastian Korda, who was two points clear in the 3^and round, but ended up beating laboriously 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (7/3), after almost two and a half hours.

The world N.4, which aims for a 4^and consecutive title after winning the ATP 250 in Melbourne, the Australian Open where he became the record holder for the number of Grand Slam titles (21, ahead of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic) and the Acapulco tournament, therefore remains unbeaten in sixteen games played in 2022.

But his opponent came close to creating a huge surprise against the ogre of this start to the season, because, after beating him twice in the last set, he led 5- 2, 30A, on its service.

Seeming to be in physical difficulty, Nadal then began an impressive “remontada”, his tennis suddenly regaining color by the sheer force of self-sacrifice that we know him to be, even when it does not want to and even when all seems lost.

Nadal ‘super lucky’

“I thought I was going to lose. But my state of mind at 5-2 against me was: “OK, I’m playing badly, but I’ll try to finish the game feeling better. So I have to fight for that. I played a little better. He made a few mistakes. Then at 5-3, 5-4, you never know what can happen…”, he commented.

He thus lined up four consecutive games, instilling doubt at each point gained in his opponent, more and more aware of passing so close to the feat. And if Korda gave himself a chance by pushing the Majorcan to the decisive game, the latter did not miss the opportunity to get out of this trap match by finally imposing his rhythm, as he had done in the first set.

So much more leggy and dominating, he had given the impression of being able to get it over with quickly. But the 38^and world reacted very well in the second round, accelerating the pace and pushing Nadal to his limits, who committed a shower of unforced errors.

“I was super lucky today to pass, honestly. I have to admit it, as I have to admit that I have to play better. I will work tomorrow (Sunday) to try to be ready” on Monday, added the Mallorcan who will face the Briton Daniel Evans.

Sabalenka already eliminated

Scheduled to open on the central, filled with 16,000 people, Daniil Medvedev, who is defending his status as world No.1 for the first time in Indian Wells, passed without a hitch, dismissing 6-3 6-2 Tomas Machac.

Without forcing, he was solid against the Czech (158^and) from qualifying, converting three of the seven break points he acquired. He concluded on his third match point in 1:11.

“I think I was consistent. The first run was quite close and I made the difference in the key points. Contrary to what the score suggests, it was not easy, ”said the Russian, who will face Frenchman Gaël Monfils (N.26) on Monday, who defeated Serbian Filip Krajinovic (6-3, 6-4).

The Greek Stéfanos Tsitsipas (N.5) had to whip against the American Jack Sock 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-6 (7/5). Also qualified, the Norwegian Casper Ruud (N.8), the Spanish hope Carlos Alcaraz (N.19) and the defending champion, the Briton Cameron Norrie (N.12), who will face the Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, for a remake of the last final.

The first big surprise of the tournament came from the women’s draw.

Aryna Sabalenka, 3^and world and therefore the highest ranked player, due to the absence of the Australian Ashleigh Barty (N.1) and the Czech Barbora Krejcikova (N.2), did not escape the stampede, beaten as soon as she entered in contention (2-6, 6-3, 6-3) by the Italian Jasmine Paolini (46^and).

The Spanish defending champion Paula Badosa (N.5), the Estonian Anett Kontaveit (N.4) and the Greek Maria Sakkari (N.6) held their rank.