Tsitsipas sets Berrettini blockbuster in Indian Wells

Stefanos Tsitsipas extended his winning streak to six matches with a crisp 6-2, 6-4 win over Thiago Seyboth Wild in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open Friday.

Up next for the Greek is a blockbuster third-round meeting with former Top 10 Italian Matteo Berrettini, whom he defeated in three sets last week en route to the title in Dubai.

Continuing the form that took him to his first ATP 500 title, the eighth-seeded Tsitsipas saved both break points he faced according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“I'm especially happy with the way I served,” Tsitsipas said. “It seemed like I was in control throughout this match when it came to my serve and I was just trying to figure out a bit to return. I think that was a bit obvious out there, but I found it towards the end of the match and it gave me that closure that I was seeking.”

No. 8 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Tsitsipas has the opportunity to climb as high as No. 5 should he win his fourth ATP Masters 1000 title this fortnight.

Tsitsipas leads Berrettini 4-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. A former World No. 6, Berrettini improved to 6-5 on the season with a 6-2, 7-6(2) win over Australian Christopher O'Connell, whom he also defeated last week in Dubai.

No. 12 seed Holger Rune enjoyed a comfortable 6-2, 6-4 win over Frenchman Corentin Moutet to improve to 7-6 on the season and 5-4 in Indian Wells.

Rune went 18-9 at ATP Masters 1000 level last season, highlighted by semi-final runs in Cincinnati and Paris. He is making his fifth appearance at Indian Wells, where last year he saved a match point in the fourth round against 2022 champion Taylor Fritz to reach the quarter-finals.

The Dane next faces 18th-seeded Frenchman Ugo Humbert, who boasts a 10-3 record on the year, including his seventh title in Marseille.