New York (AFP)

Big surprise at the Indian Wells Masters 1000 on Wednesday: Daniil Medvedev, 2nd in the world and winner of the last US Open, was released in the round of 16, overthrown by the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (28th), while the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas assumed with difficulty his status against the Australian Alex de Minaur.

How difficult it was for Tsitsipas, the last Roland-Garros finalist, who lost the first set before winning the second round in the tie-break!

The 23-year-old finally won 6-7, 7-6, 6-2 in a 2:43 marathon match against the Australian, 27th in the world.

The big surprise of the day came from Daniil Medvedev, 2nd in the world and winner of the last US Open, released by the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (28th).

Seeded No. 1 in the tournament, the Russian was beaten in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 after 2:14 of a bitter fight.

"I felt exhausted during the tournament. Now that it's over I can say it. I have several physical problems that have arisen," Medvedev said after the game, without specifying what those problems were.

He was the big favorite of the tournament, since his triumph a month ago at the US Open where, winner of his first Major, he had deprived Novak Djokovic of a historic calendar Grand Slam, not achieved since 1969 and the Australian Rod Laver.

Solid in the first set, he was on his way to an easy success by leading 4-1 in the next, when he suddenly let go and multiplied unforced errors, in front of an audience wishing that the match be prolonged and therefore won over to the cause. by Dimitrov.

Russian Daniil Medvedev during his match against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, October 13, 2021 in Indian Wells Frederic J. BROWN AFP

The Bulgarian won the game on his first match point in the third set, after a too long forehand from Medvedev.

- "He will win the tournament" -

"If he continues to play like this, as he played from 4-1, he will win the tournament," predicted the Russian.

"He played the second half of the game like nobody did against me at the US Open. It's not like I gave him the game."

Dimitrov will face Thursday in the quarter-finals the last winner of the Miami tournament, the Polish Hubert Hurkacz (12th in the world).

Seeded N.8, he won earlier in the day against another Russian, Aslan Karatsev, 6-1, 6-3, who had eliminated another cador, his compatriot Andrey Rublev, in the previous round.

David Schwartzman (15th player in the world) will also see the quarter-finals after his victory against the Norwegian Casper Ruud (10th in the world), 6-3, 6-3.

Jelena Ostapenko during her match against Shelby Rogers, October 13, 2021 in Indian Wells Frederic J. BROWN AFP

It is the 200th victory on the ATP circuit of the Argentinian, striker in the previous round of the Briton Daniel Evans in three sets, 5-7, 6-4, 6-0.

"It is just happiness. I had set myself the goal of achieving 200 wins this year. To face a top 10 player is extraordinary. It was one of the three best matches of my career, "said the Argentine after the meeting.

The 29-year-old, seeded No.11, reached this stage of the competition for the first time in the California desert.

He will face in the next round the American Tommy Paul (60th), winner of the Briton Cameron Norrie (26th) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

On the women's side, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (32nd player in the world) qualified for the semifinals of the WTA 1000 tennis tournament in Indian Wells, after her victory over American Jessica Pegula (24th in the world) in two. sets, 6-4, 6-2.

She will face in the last four the Latvian Jelena Ostapenko (29th in the world) who defeated the American Shelby Rogers (44th in the world) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

© 2021 AFP