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Third Round Awards: Wawrinka Wins Best Match, Fritz Dominates, Kvitova's Crazy Victory
3 Min Read · March 13, 2023
With the third round of BNP Paribas Open action complete and the final 16 set, we take a look back at some of the standout performances from the past two days. Check em out! ⬇️
🏅 Stan Wawrinka d. Holger Rune [7] – 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5
It was the new era vs. the old veteran on Monday afternoon in Stadium 2, and Stan Wawrinka showed that he’s not done making noise just yet. After squandering a match point in the second set, the 3x Grand slam champion show why he’s one of the best to ever do it — reislliently fighting back in the third set.
The 37-year-old Wawrinka is the oldest player remaining in the ATP draw, but he isn’t letting his age slow him down. Next up is a date with No. 11 seed Jannik Sinner. Can he pull another incredible upset?
🏅 Jessica Pegula [3] d. Anastasia Potapova [26] – 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
Another instant classic on Stadium 2, No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula used a raucous Sunday crowd to her advantage as she pushed past a valiant spoiler effort from her opponent Anastasia Potapova. After dropping the first set for the second match in a row, Pegula remained calm and collected as she does best and narrowly pulled out the final two sets.
Next up for the American hopeful is a tricky fourth round clash with 2x Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
🏅 Cristian Garin d. Casper Ruud [3] – 6-4, 7-6 (2)
Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin pulled one of the largest upsets of the tournament so far on Sunday, and it was never really in doubt from start to finish. Taking advantage of a slumping Casper Ruud, Garin remained in control from start to finish — showing that his 2022 Wimbledon quarterfinal appearance may not have been a fluke after all.
Garin will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina next, with the Spaniard coming up in upset of his own over Karen Khachanov.
🏅 Petra Kvitova [15] d. Jelena Ostapenko [28] – 0-6, 6-0, 6-4
This one had it all. After a dominating open set from the Latvian Ostapenko, Kvitova roared back in the second set with a vengeance to make it to blank sets back-to-back. Ostapenko fought back in set three with a valiant effort after falling behind 0-4, but ultimately came up short with Kvitova’s consistency and experience shining through.
🏅Tommy Paul Wins The Match In Style.
In another highly exciting third round matchup, American Tommy Paul pulled out his own come-from-behind victory over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. Check out this stellar sliding backhand from Paul en route to his three-set victory.
🏅 Taylor Fritz [4] d. Sebastian Baez [30] – 6-1, 6-2
After a tricky first matchup against Ben Shelton in the second round, Fritz wasted no time getting the job done — thrashing his way to a 6-1, 6-2 domination of Sebastian Baez. Fritz booked his Round of 16 ticket in style, and now faces Hungary’s Martin Fucsovics as he eyes a repeat title quest.
🏅 Emma Raducanu d. Beatriz Haddad Maia [13] – 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu snagged her most impressive win since that maiden Grand Slam title, using three sets to upset the hard-hitting Beatriz Haddad Maia. After wasting a few match point opportunities earlier in the third set, Raducanu prevailed when it mattered most — setting up a huge clash with World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the Round Of 16.
Raducanu’s Monday win was her best since she knocked out a then No. 18 ranked Maria Sakkari in the 2021 US Open semifinals.
