Rafael Nadal proved too robust for Britain’s Dan Evans as he continued his phenomenal kind in 2022 by reaching the final 16 at Indian Wells.
Evans broke early and led 3-1 and 4-2 however Nadal broke serve twice to win the opening set 7-5.
The Spaniard, who has not misplaced in 2022 and has 17 straight wins, broke early in set two and sealed a 7-5 6-3 win.
Elsewhere, Daniil Medvedev misplaced his last-32 match in opposition to Gael Monfils and can lose his world primary rating.
World quantity 4 Nadal, who staged an epic fightback to beat American Sebastian Korda within the earlier spherical, is the person to beat for the time being – as Evans acknowledged.
“It is powerful to clarify the sensation you get in opposition to him,” stated Evans. “He performed very properly, I assumed, he was very aggressive and he did not actually give me a lot likelihood to come back ahead.
“I used to be pleased with the best way I performed. It is a horrible match-up for me – it will be good to have a double handed backhand on this scenario.”
Nadal’s win means he’ll play American Reilly Opelka or Canada’s Denis Shapovalov within the subsequent spherical.
The 35-year-old stated: “I’ve been taking part in after a few video games higher and higher. That’s vital for confidence and taking part in in opposition to a very good opponent like Dan is sweet for me.
“I believe the match in the beginning was troublesome. He put me beneath strain going to the web. It was not simple to place him in powerful positions. I hit a few vital passing pictures at vital moments. Then after the primary set issues went to go a bit of bit extra higher.”
Medvedev’s defeat, in the meantime, means his place on the prime of the rankings will final simply three weeks and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic will change into world primary from Monday.
Frenchman Monfils secured a 6-4 3-6 6-1 win by changing his sixth match level in opposition to Medvedev. In celebrating his shock win over the Russian he pointed to his Ukrainian spouse Elina Svitolina within the stands.
“I am in my zone and I am a troublesome opponent for anybody,” stated 35-year-old Monfils, who will play Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz within the final 16.
“It has been a very long time since I’ve overwhelmed a world primary, so I am fairly comfortable. I’ve had a powerful begin to the 12 months, felt robust, transferring good.”
Alcaraz, seeded 19, superior to the final 16 with a assured 6-2 6-0 demolition of compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut, the fifteenth seed.
Elsewhere on Monday within the girls’s draw, Greece’s Maria Sakkari, trying to construct on a breakout 2021 which included two Grand Slam semi-finals appearances, reached the final 16 by overwhelming the Czech Republic’s two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-3 6-0.
Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova beat Estonian fourth seed Anett Kontaveit 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7-5) in a match that lasted two hours and 50 minutes.
‘A bridge too far for Evans’ – evaluation
BBC Sport tennis correspondent Russell Fuller:
Evans made a quick begin – coming ahead and placing a whole lot of strain on Nadal within the early levels.
However steadily Nadal reeled him in, and he made life as troublesome for somebody with a single handed backhand as he at all times does.
These gritty sluggish courts, mixed with the skinny desert air, at all times take some getting used to – however Nadal is now working his manner into the match ominously.
