Qualifying Update: Top Seed Albot Stays Hot

Streaking Moldovan Tops Kreuger in Rain-Delayed Match, 6-1, 6-4

Moldova’s Radu Albot, top seeded in BNP Paribas Open qualifying, moved one step closer to the main draw on Tuesday night with a rain-delayed, 6-1, 6-4 decision over American Mitchell Krueger.

Ranked No. 53, Krueger arrived in the Coachella Valley playing some of the best tennis of his decade-long career. The 29-year-old reached the Montpellier semifinals in February, and followed with a triumphant run in Delray Beach — his first ATP Tour title.

Nicknamed “Machine” by his fellow players, Albot led the 160^th-ranked Keruger 6-1, 4-4 in Stadium 3 when play was suspended due to rain. When the foes retook the court, Albot sprinted to the finish, closing out his opponent in one-hour, 22 minutes. He neutralized both break points he faced, and won 40 of his 53 service points on the evening.

Albot moves on to face Slovak Lukas Lacko, who survived a tight three-setter against Canada’s Peter Polansky, 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(3).