Edmund Races Through Indian Wells Opener

Kyle Edmund got his BNP Paribas Open campaign off to a flying start on Friday, scoring a convincing 6-1, 6-3 win over Gastao Elias at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Edmund didn’t drop serve and broke Elias twice in each set to secure the win in 66 minutes. He will now face three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic in the second round.

“The things [Djokovic] does well are making a lot of balls and being quick around the court. It’s tough to get the ball by him and break him down,” said Edmund. “These are things that I’ve experienced the last two times I’ve played him. I’ll try and use that on Sunday.”

American #NextGenATP player Taylor Fritz recorded his first win in Indian Wells by defeating Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-2. The 19-year-old Fritz is aiming for a good showing in Indian Wells as he bids to return to the Top 100 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, having been as high as No. 53 this past August. The right-hander made great strides at the beginning of last year, reaching his first ATP World Tour final in Memphis (l. to Nishikori) and the quarterfinals in Acapulco (l. to Querrey).

“I always think I play well here. This is where I’m from. I’ve played in Indian Wells since I was eight years old, come down here for tournaments. Just being from San Diego my whole life and having a lot of family that lives out here in the desert, it’s like a second home to me,” said Fritz. “I have been telling everyone that I think I have been playing my best tennis ever this week. It’s been going really well in practice, and I just hope that I can bring that onto the court in my next match.”

Fritz goes on to face sixth seed Marin Cilic in the second round.

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Kevin Anderson claimed his first win in more than four months as he defeated qualifier Federico Gaio 6-1, 6-4. The South African made his comeback from injury last month in Memphis (l. to Dzumhur) and Delray Beach (l. to del Potro) after being sidelined at the start of the season due to a hip problem. Next up for Anderson is No. 24 seed Steve Johnson.

In other matches, Mikhail Youzhny set a second-round clash with reigning Australian Open semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov after beating fellow Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-4. Other players to advance on Friday include Malek Jaziri, Jan-Lennard Struff and Federico Delbonis.