Indian Wells Masters: Zverev survives Ruusuvuori to set up last 16 clash against Medvedev

The world No 14 defeated Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 on Sunday

Alexander Zverev at the 2023 Indian Wells Masters

Alexander Zverev at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic

Tennis Majors

March 13, 2023

BNP Paribas Open •Third round • completed

See draw

E. RuusuvuorivsA. Zverev

German Alexander Zverev, the No 12 seed, moved into the last 16 of the Indian Wells Masters by edging out Finn Emil Ruusuvuori 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 on Sunday.

This is the third time that Zverev has reached the last 16 at Indian Wells, with the German yet to advance to the semi-finals at this ATP Masters 1000 series event.

“The last two years, I lost 7-6 in the third, to two Americans,” said Zverev after his win. “I lost a lot of tight three-setters here, and I feel like I just wanted to get out here and get this win.”

“He’s an incredibly aggressive opponent, he can hit the ball very hard from both sides. I’m happy that I managed to win, to get it done somehow,” he said. “I wasn’t playing my best and I thought he really was. That’s how it goes sometimes, but I’m happy with the win and I’m happy to move forward.”

Zverev, ranked No 14, will face the red-hot Daniil Medvedev next. The Russian is on a 16-match winning streak having won three titles in a row prior to this week.

The pair have split their 12 career meetings with Zverev winning five of their first six matches and Medvedev coming out on tops in five of their six most recent encounters.

The German beat Argentinian Pedro Cachin (6-3, 6-1) in the previous round of the Indian Wells Tennis Masters.

Earlier in the tournament, Ruusuvuori, ranked No 59, benefited from the retirement of Frenchman Constant Lestienne (6-4, 4-1) and won against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, the No 22 seed (7-6 (5), 6-2).

Indian Wells Masters, other third-round matches (Indian Wells Tennis Garden, hard, USD 8,800,000):