Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek entered the third round of the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters on Friday with the same scoreline lead. But former world number one Andy Murray was less than happy as he lost to fifth seed Andrey Rublev 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 , and lost to Rafael Nadal in the 2009 final. Australian Open champion Sinner beat Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 6-0, while women’s world No. 1 Swiatek also beat American Danielle Collins with the same score.

Italian third seed Sinner won the ATP 500-level event in Rotterdam last month, paving the way for his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne.

He remains undefeated this season, completing a 13-game winning streak while defeating Kokkinakis 4-0.

Sinner has won his last 15 meetings with Australian opponents, last losing in Toronto three years ago.

Swiatek, the 2022 Indian Wells champion and last year’s French Open champion, who will begin her 94th week in the WTA top rankings on Monday, broke Collins four times and won on her second match point.

“I’m happy that I got off to a good start in the match,” said the Polish star. “The first round is never easy.

“Danielle hit the ball hard and I’m glad I passed. I wanted to be ready for anything and I didn’t give her a chance and small differences matter.”

Defending Wimbledon champion Matata Vondrousova also advanced easily, defeating American Bernarda Pera in just two sets. Vondrousova defeated Pera 6-0, 6-2 in just 64 minutes.

But Elena Rybakina withdrew before her scheduled opener due to gastrointestinal issues, ending her title defense without a hit.

Sinner said both he and Kokkinakis had to deal with changing desert winds early in the race.

“We were all a little nervous at first, but kind of relaxed,” Sinner said. “But when I broke him for the first time, I immediately felt better.”

Already prepared

After scoring 21 winners and making just seven unforced errors in 80 minutes, the Italians were delighted but not overconfident.

“I’m not unbeatable, I’m just well prepared,” he said. “I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am… You dream about winning a Grand Slam.

“You come here and the conditions are different. You have to figure it out.”

Sinner scored a dozen straight points to take a 3-0 lead and continued to put pressure on his 99th-ranked opponent.

The Italian won his last 10 games to advance and will face either Jan-Lennard Straf or Borna Coric in the next round.

No. 10 seed Alex de Minaur, who won in Acapulco at the weekend, regained his Australian status by defeating Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-1, 6-2. pride.

German sixth seed Alexander Zverev opened the week with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Australian Christopher O’Connell.

Zverev’s compatriot Angelique Kerber stepped up her post-baby comeback with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Grand Slam winner Jelena Ostapenko.

The 34-year-old German became a mother last summer and returned to competition in January, winning back-to-back matches for the first time since Wimbledon two years ago.

No. 11 Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Lucas Pouille 6-3, 6-2.

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