Heliovaara & Glasspool, Mektic & Pavic Win Indian Wells Openers

Fifth seeds Harri Heliovaara and Lloyd Glasspool continued their sturdy begin to 2023 after surviving a minor scare to succeed in the second spherical of the BNP Paribas Open Saturday.

The Britsh duo, which started the yr by profitable the Adelaide 1 title and final week had been finalists in Dubai, wanted a match tie-break of their Indian Wells opener to take down Dutchmen Matwe Middelkoop and Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 3-6, 10-6.

After struggling a first-round exit final yr in Indian Wells, fourth seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic wasted no time Saturday of their opening match within the desert.

The Croatians, who received the ATP 250 in Auckland earlier this yr, downed Casper Ruud and Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-3 in entrance of a packed Stadium 6. Mektic and Pavic received 26 of 31 first serve factors and transformed 4 of seven break factors to earn a one hour, 10 minute victory.

Eyeing their fifth Masters 1000 crown this fortnight, Mektic and Pavic have collected 15 crew titles since partnering in 2021. Within the spherical of 16, they’ll meet Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, who ousted American wild playing cards Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow 7-5, 6-4.