Tsitsipas survives Sock scare to go through

Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas had to battle back from 5-4 down in the third set to overcome Jack Sock at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday night, winning 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(5).

Tsitsipas had to produce some stunning tennis to win the first set tiebreak and did it again in the third as sock made two unforced errors to let the Greek back into the match.

”It was a crazy battle; we both left everything out there,” Tsitsipas said.

“Jack played incredibly well at times but I was able to bring out the best in my game at the end. I proved I could play aggressive tennis and stay calm at the same time.”

Tsitsipas will next meet another American, rising star Jenson Brooksby, who beat Russian Karen Khachanov 6-0, 6-3.

Defending champion Cameron Norrie recovered to beat Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-3 win and will play Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, who received a walkover from Italian Fabio Fognini (illness).

Gael Monfils set up a third-round meeting with World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev after beating Serb Filip Krajinovic 6-3, 6-4.

And No. 8 seed Casper Ruud didn’t face a break point in his 7-6(5), 6-2 win over American qualifier Christopher Eubanks.

Peter Rowe

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