Tuesday Preview: Murray Faces Zverev, Berrettini Chases Turin Berth

  • Posted: Oct 12, 2021

A defeat of highly touted #NextGenATP prospect Carlos Alcaraz has Andy Murray confident of maintaining an unbeaten record against third seed Alexander Zverev at the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday.

With fourth-round berths on the line at Indian Wells, second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas takes on Fabio Fognini, looking to improve on a 2-0 ATP Head2Head record, while Fognini’s countryman, fifth seed Matteo Berrettini, could set a fourth-round showdown with fellow Italian and Nitto ATP Finals hope Jannik Sinner.

Former World No. 1 Murray holds a 2-0 ATP Head2Head record against Zverev, including a surprise win at this stage of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati last year. Now at No. 121 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, the Scot believes he is in even better shape this time round to go 3-0.

“He’s had a good summer post Wimbledon with the Olympics, then a great run in New York. Played a tough match with Novak [Djokovic] there,” Murray said. “Not going to be easy for me. I played some good matches against him in the past. Yeah, will need to play really well.

“Obviously the match that we played last year, not saying he was playing his best tennis at that stage, but he did make the final of the US Open a couple of weeks later,” Murray said. “I wasn’t physically feeling particularly good and did not play particularly well, but managed to win. From that perspective I can gain confidence from that, that if I play a really good match I’ll be right in there with a shot.”

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After being taken to three sets against #NextGenATP American Jenson Brooksby in his opening match, Zverev had added incentive to beat Murray for a place in the fourth round. The German’s win over Brooksby sealed his berth at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held from 14-21 November at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, and kept him in the hunt for a third ATP Masters 1000 trophy for the season.

“I’m happy to be in the third round and playing Andy now. I think he’s the only one of the Big Four I haven’t beaten yet, so I hope I can change that,” Zverev said. “I think it’s incredible how well he’s moving and incredible how well he’s playing. I think he’s very motivated so I hope I can show my best tennis.”

Second seed Tsitsipas, who won his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Monte-Carlo in April, has the chance to reach the fourth round at Indian Wells for the first time when he takes on 25th seed Fognini on Stadium 1. The Greek saw off Spaniard Pedro Martinez in his opening match, while Fognini ground out a three-set victory over Jan-Lennard Struff.

John Isner’s withdrawal to be with his wife for the birth of their child boosted 10th seed Sinner’s hopes of a deep run in the desert as he aimed to improve on his current standing of 10th position in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin. The 20-year-old could next meet Wimbledon runner-up Berrettini should the Italian beat 31st seed Taylor Fritz of the United States.

After ending the run of Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabilo, Berrettini looks to level the ledger after losing his only prior ATP Head2Head meeting with the American in the 2019 Davis Cup Finals in Spain. Fritz scored a straight-sets triumph over #NextGenATP countryman Brandon Nakashima in his opening match.

SCHEDULE – TUESDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2021

STADIUM 1 start 11:00 am
WTA – [19] J. Pegula (USA) vs [4] E. Svitolina (UKR)
WTA – S. Rogers (USA) vs [23] L. Fernandez (CAN)
ATP – [WC] A. Murray (GBR) vs [3] A. Zverev (GER) 

Not Before 6:00 PM
WTA – [10] A. Kerber (GER) vs A. Tomljanovic (AUS)
ATP – [25] F. Fognini (ITA) vs [2] S. Tsitsipas (GRE) 

STADIUM 2 start 11:00 am
ATP – [5] M. Berrettini (ITA) vs [31] T. Fritz (USA) 
ATP – [24] K. Khachanov (RUS) vs [12] P. Carreno Busta (ESP) 

Not Before 4:00 PM
WTA – [3] B. Krejcikova (CZE) vs [21] P. Badosa (ESP)

Not Before 6:00 pm
ATP – [14] G. Monfils (FRA) vs K. Anderson (RSA) 

Not Before 8:00 PM
WTA – [12] O. Jabeur (TUN) vs [Q] A. Kalinskaya (RUS)

STADIUM 3 start 11:00 am
WTA – [24] J. Ostapenko (LAT) vs [2] I. Swiatek (POL)
ATP – A. Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) vs [29] N. Basilashvili (GEO) 
WTA – [27] V. Azarenka (BLR) vs A. Sasnovich (BLR)

After Suitable Rest NB 6:00 PM
WTA – L. Fernandez (CAN) / C. Gauff (USA) vs [2] S. Hsieh (TPE) / E. Mertens (BEL)
ATP – [13] C. Garin (CHI) vs [22] A. de Minaur (AUS) 

STADIUM 4 start 1:00 pm
WTA – M. Ninomiya (JPN) / S. Santamaria (USA) vs [3] S. Aoyama (JPN) / E. Shibahara (JPN)
ATP – W. Koolhof (NED) / J. Rojer (NED) vs [7] J. Peers (AUS) / F. Polasek (SVK) 
ATP – [1] N. Mektic (CRO) / M. Pavic (CRO) vs M. Arevalo (ESA) / M. Middelkoop (NED) 

Not Before 6:00 PM
WTA – [LL] B. Haddad Maia (BRA) vs [18] A. Kontaveit (EST)
ATP – J. Struff (GER) / A. Zverev (GER) vs R. Bopanna (IND) / D. Shapovalov (CAN) 00

STADIUM 6 start After Suitable Rest NB 6;00 PM
WTA – [1] B. Krejcikova (CZE) / K. Siniakova (CZE) vs L. Kichenok (UKR) / J. Ostapenko (LAT)

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