<figure id="attachment_3300173" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3300173" style="width: 1599px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3300173" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/acf8bf07-afp__20260309__2265502369__v2__midres__bnpparibasopen2026day5_cropped_1.webp" alt="" width="1599" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3300173" class="wp-caption-text">Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a forehand against Denis Shapovalov of Canada in their third-round match of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.  (AFP pic)</figcaption></figure>
INDIAN WELLS: World number two Jannik Sinner took another step toward a first Indian Wells ATP Masters title, easing past Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-2 to reach the fourth round on Sunday.
After dropping just two games in his second-round opener against Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina, Sinner was caught napping to drop his serve in the opening game.
He responded with confidence against a potentially tricky opponent known for producing winners.
Sinner quickly recouped the break and grabbed another in the eighth game.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a very tough second match for me,&#8221; Sinner said.
&#8220;He&#8217;s a very high quality player &#8230; he had great wins in the past so I&#8217;m very happy about today&#8217;s performance,&#8221; he added.
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 closing it out with a love game.
&#8220;I tried to stay solid on the baseline but also a bit more aggressive in the second set,&#8221; Sinner said.
&#8220;It was a tough start for me with a break down but I&#8217;m happy how I reacted,&#8221; he said.
Sinner will face either American Tommy Paul or 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca for a place in the quarter-finals.
Fonseca saved two match points in his second-round victory over 16th-seeded Karen Khachanov and his late-night Stadium Court clash with 23rd-seeded Paul promised fireworks.
In early matches, fourth-seeded German Alexander Zverev held off a determined Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-4.
Zverev didn&#8217;t have a break point against the 30th-ranked American until the third set.
He missed his first two opportunities before finally making one count, breaking Nakashima in the final game to seal the victory.
&#8220;He played a fantastic match today,&#8221; Zverev said of Nakashima, who had 17 aces to Zverev&#8217;s 15.
&#8220;He served like I have never seen before. He was hitting his spots well. Every ace was more or less on the line for him, so I&#8217;ve got to give credit to him. He played a great match,&#8221;  he said.
Zverev 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 leveled the match with a love game.
&#8220;Definitely happy to get the win because that was a difficult match,&#8221; Zverev said after improving to 6-0 against Nakashima.
Zverev will next face either 15th-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli or American Frances Tiafoe.
Rising US talent Learner Tien knocked off eighth-seeded compatriot Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3.
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.
&#8220;It&#8217;s great,&#8221; Tien said of lining up a last-16 shot at 18th-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina &#8212; a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 winner over 12th seed Jakub Mensik.
But he knew Shelton wasn&#8217;t at his best.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t think he&#8217;s been feeling great all week, but he&#8217;s an amazing competitor and he came out and gave it his all.
&#8220;So I just want to say, huge props to him,&#8221; Tien said.

MatchPoint Times

Sinner eases past Shapovalov to reach fourth round

Jannik Sinner defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-2 at the BNP Paribas Open.

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