Stefanos Tsitsipas’ troubling slide down the ATP rankings continued as he faced a disheartening first-round defeat against Denis Shapovalov at Indian Wells on Wednesday. This match marked another setback for the former world number three, who has now dropped outside the ATP top 40 for the first time since May 2018.
The 27-year-old Greek player entered the prestigious Masters 1000 tournament in California in need of a victory to regain his confidence. Instead, he experienced his third consecutive loss, with Shapovalov edging him out in a closely contended match that ended 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
In other matches from the men’s draw, Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca triumphed over Raphael Collignon with a score of 7-6(2), 6-4, while Italy’s Matteo Berrettini overcame a set deficit to defeat Adrian Mannarino, prevailing 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in a match lasting just under three hours. Notable players such as Gael Monfils, Jenson Brooksby, and Gabriel Diallo also advanced to the second round.
On the women’s side, 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu, who received a wildcard to compete, was eliminated by Kamilla Rakhimova in three sets with a scoreline of 6-7(6), 6-0, 6-1. Other significant players, including Sloane Stephens and Paula Badosa, also fell in the first round, while Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska secured a strong victory against Shuai Zhang, winning 6-3, 6-2.
The first rounds of Indian Wells showcased intense competition, setting the stage for exciting matches as the tournament progresses.