By dominating the Croatian qualifier Borna Gojo (6-4, 6-7, 6-2), Richard Gasquet had won his first success in Indian Wells since 2016. But the Biterrois will not go further: despite a good start of the match, he could not oppose the power of Jannik Sinner, winner in two sets (6-3, 7-6 (2)). It is therefore the Italian, seeded 11, who will play the third round. It will be against the winner of the match between Adrian Mannarino and Lorenzo Musetti.
Faced with a slightly feverish Sinner (four forehand fouls in the first game), Gasquet nevertheless got off to a good start. He even got a 3-0 ball, double break, but the Italian dismissed it with an excellent first ball. From then on, it was he who took control of the match by imposing his quality of striking, especially in the forehand. After forty minutes, he had taken the lead 6 games to 3.
Times were going to be difficult for the Frenchman but Gasquet nevertheless held on until the tie-break of the second round. A set marked by the predominance of servers (no break point to get your teeth into). But a double fault in the swirling wind (his fourth) sawed off his legs in the decisive game. Impeccable in service (9 aces in total), Sinner no longer offered him the slightest opening. His first match point was the correct one. The 13th in the world never really doubted his superiority.
