Sandgren, 30, reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2018 and 2020. The last time he bowed to Roger Federer only after five sets, after he himself had left no less than seven match points unused.
In January 2019, Sandgren was even the number 41 in the world for a while. Meanwhile, the tennis player from Tennessee, who has been criticized in the past for his alleged sympathy for the conservative right, has dropped to 153rd place.
Van de Zandschulp is making steady progress in the world rankings and that was reflected in Indian Wells, the tournament that is also known as the ‘fifth grand slam tournament’.
At 3-3, Van de Zandschulp brushed away four breakpoints, which turned out to be the only breakpoints he encountered. At 5-4, Van de Zandschulp struck himself at the first break he got. In the second company he quickly ran out to 3-0, after which he didn’t run into any more problems.
In the second round, the Dutchman awaits a tough challenge in the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime. The number nine in the world won the ABN Amro tournament in Rotterdam a month ago.
