ATP Indian Wells: Qualifier Watanuki upsets Tiafoe to reach first Masters round of 16

Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki defeated American Frances Tiafoe, the No 16 seed, 6-4, 7-6 (6) to advance to the last 16 of the Indian Wells Masters on Sunday.

Watanuki is currently being coached by former top 10 player Wayne Ferreira, who is the former coach of the American.

Ranked No 349, the Japanese qualifier will face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor next. He becomes the lowest ranked player to make the fourth round at Indian Wells since Tommy Haas, then ranked No 882 and now the Tournament Director here, did the same in 2004.

Watanuki, who missed seven months of the season last year due to injuries, won against Kazakh Alexander Bublik (6-3, 3-6, 6-3) and No 19 seed Tomas Machac (4-6, 4-2 ret.) ahead of his win today.

In the previous rounds, Tiafoe, ranked No 17, won against Bosnian qualifier Damir Dzumhur (7-6 (4), 7-6 (7)). The American served for the second set twice and held two set points on Sunday but was unable to force a decider.

Indian Wells Masters 1000, other third-round matches (Indian Wells Tennis Garden, hard, USD 13,042,410):

• Arthur Fils (20) beat Lorenzo Musetti (15): 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3
• Holger Rune (12) beat Ugo Humbert (18): 5-7, 6-4, 7-5
• Daniil Medvedev (5) beat Alex Michelsen (31): 2-0 ret.
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) beat Matteo Berrettini (28): 6-3, 6-3
• Marcos Giron beat Alexei Popyrin (26): 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
• Tommy Paul (10) beat Cameron Norrie: 6-3, 7-5
• Tallon Griekspoor beat Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (29): 7-6 (3), 6-3
• Grigor Dimitrov vs. Gael Monfils
• Denis Shapovalov vs. Carlos Alcaraz
• Karen Khachanov vs. Ben Shelton
• Matteo Arnaldi vs. Brandon Nakashima
• Hubert Hurkacz vs. Alex De Minaur
• Alejandro Tabilo vs. Taylor Fritz
• Botic van de Zandschulp vs. Francisco Cerundolo
• Jack Draper vs. Jenson Brooksby

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