Jannik Sinner sets up Joao Fonseca clash at Indian Wells, Zverev survives

[p]After dropping just two games in his second-round opener against Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Sinner[/a] was caught napping to drop his serve in the opening game.[/p][p]He responded with confidence against a potentially tricky opponent known for producing winners.[/p][p]Sinner quickly recouped the break and grabbed another in the eighth game.[/p][p][b]"It's a very tough second match for me,"[/b] Sinner said. "[b]He's a very high quality player ... he had great wins in the past so I'm very happy about today's performance.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="58fe1907-d3e8-45bf-88c7-232117177f69" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2030795218962796711?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]With one set in his pocket Sinner was in full control in the second, opening with a break on the way to a 5-2 lead and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/shapovalov-d-zXddgn9o/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/?mid=QJUhrWMb"]closing it out with a love game[/a].[/p][p]"[b]I tried to stay solid on the baseline but also a bit more aggressive in the second set,[/b]" Sinner said. "[b]It was a tough start for me with a break down but I'm happy how I reacted[/b]."[/p][p]Sinner faces the 19-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fonseca-joao/tv073LUc/"]Fonseca[/a] for a place in the quarter-finals.[/p][p]Fonseca, who saved two match points in his second-round victory over Karen Khachanov, beat another seeded player, American [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paul-tommy/pd3ye1BS/"]Tommy Paul[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/fonseca-j-tv073LUc/paul-t-pd3ye1BS/?mid=rspuFSJq"]6-2, 6-3[/a].[/p][p]Fonseca brought the heat, displaying thunderous groundstrokes as he reached the fourth round of a Masters 1000 for the first time.[/p][p]He said he was eager for the chance to test himself against four-time major winner Sinner.[/p][p][b]"We tennis players, we look to playing against top players so it's going to be a pleasure - and hopefully I can get the win," [/b]he said.[/p][h2]Zverev sees off tricky Nakashima test[/h2][p]Fourth-seeded German Alexander Zverev had to go the distance to reach the fourth round of the Indian Wells ATP Masters on Sunday, holding off a determined Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-4.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Zverev[/a] didn't have a break point against the 30th-ranked opponent until the third set. He missed his first two opportunities before finally making one count, breaking [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nakashima-brandon/ETGnbrpH/"]Nakashima[/a] in the final game [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/nakashima-b-ETGnbrpH/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=fLsbnN1B"]to seal the victory[/a].[/p][p][b]"He has an incredible serve, and you don't think about that,"[/b] Zverev said of Nakashima, who fired 17 aces to the German's 15. "His placement on serve is probably the best in the world.[/p][p][b]"What he's lacking in power, he's definitely got in placement. I was not having any chances to break him for the first two and a half sets, and the only chance I kind of had, I used it in the end.[/b][/p][p][b]"Definitely happy to get the win because that was a difficult match,"[/b] Zverev said.[/p][p]The German gained the upper hand in a close-run contest with a dominant first-set tiebreaker, but the American converted his fifth break chance for a 6-5 lead in the second and levelled the match with a love game.[/p][p]Zverev improved to 5-0 against Nakashima, a 24-year-old Southern California native who remembers watching [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/federer-roger/GrsQDFC0/"]Roger Federer[/a] play Indian Wells as a youngster.[/p][embed guid="fb1f3ffb-3100-48e1-bf8a-188ac4851c38" url="https://x.com/BNPPARIBASOPEN/status/2030746923574202475" social-type="twitter" /][p]He'll face either 15th-seeded Italian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cobolli-flavio/zDtaCcPe/"]Flavio Cobolli[/a] or American [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tiafoe-frances/AHDLJaph/"]Frances Tiafoe[/a] for a place in the quarter-finals.[/p][p]Rising US talent Learner Tien knocked off eighth-seeded compatriot Ben Shelton [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/shelton-b-QNuG0Gzb/tien-l-xUHOBJK6/?mid=UyaIZqI5"]7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3[/a].[/p][p]Tien peppered big-serving Shelton with 15 aces while Shelton, who appeared to be feeling the effects of the illness that slowed him in a second-round win over Reilly Opelka, produced just eight.[/p][p]"[b]It's great,[/b]" Tien said of lining up a last-16 shot at 18th-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina - a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/davidovich-fokina-a-0zQXLfz4/mensik-j-UFj257G8/?mid=rZZxxAIF"]6-2, 4-6, 6-2[/a] winner over 12th seed Jakub Mensik.[/p][embed guid="5d05335c-89a2-408f-90b0-6c6cf135cb6f" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2030774485687693759?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]But he knew Shelton wasn't at his best.[/p][p]"[b]I don't think he's been feeling great all week, but he's an amazing competitor and he came out and gave it his all,[/b]" Tien said. "[b]So I just want to say, huge props to him.[/b]"[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/atp-singles/indian-wells/"]Follow the men's side at Indian Wells here.[/a][/b][/p]