Sunday, March 9, 2014

Tursunov, Federer to meet at Indian Wells

   Dmitry Tursunov got his wish.
   One week after almost playing Roger Federer in Dubai, Tursunov is scheduled to face the Swiss star on Monday in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
    The 27th-seeded Tursunov, a Russian who trains in the Sacramento suburb of Granite Bay, advanced Saturday with a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over Juan Monaco of Argentina.
   The right-handed Monaco reached a career-high No. 10 in the world in 2012 but was troubled by a right wrist injury last year.
   Federer, seeded seventh, eliminated Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 6-2, 7-6 (5).
   All men's and women's seeds received first-round byes in the BNP Paribas Open.
   Federer, 32, is 3-0 lifetime against Tursunov, 31. They would have met last week in the quarterfinals at Dubai if Tursunov had beaten Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic in the second round, but Tursunov was hobbled by a leg injury and lost.
   Federer went on to win Dubai, where he has a residence, to surpass John McEnroe with his 78th career singles title. Federer, who seeks his fifth crown at Indian Wells, ranks third in the Open era (since 1968) behind Jimmy Connors' 109 titles and Ivan Lendl's 94.
   Tursunov said on Thursday at Indian Wells that his leg was still bothering him but that he would "love to play" Federer.

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