By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, March 12, 2023
Casper Ruud’s dry spell continues in the desert.
Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin upset the third-seeded Ruud 6-4, 7-6(2) to charge into the Indian Wells round of 16.
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It was Garin’s first Top 10 win in nearly two years ending his eight-match losing streak against Top 10 opponents.
Garin more than doubled the world No. 4’s winner output (39 to 17) and repeatedly rushed Ruud on backhand passing shots. Garin won 18 of 23 net points and will face either 13th-seeded Karen Khachanov or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for a quarterfinal spot.
¡Bacán Garín!
Coming from the qualifying rounds, @Garin_Cris upsets Ruud 6-4 7-6 to storm into R4 in #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/7bPi6gMEAt
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 12, 2023
The 97th-ranked Garin snapped one streak and extended another as Ruud, who fell to 4-5 on the season, has yet to score back-to-back wins this season.
Six months ago, Ruud walked onto Arthur Ashe Stadium court to face Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open final knowing a win would not only clinch his maiden major it would propel him to the world No. 1 ranking.
Ruud will have about a week to reset before trying to find his form and confidence at the Miami Open. Ruud is defending 600 ranking points from his run to the 2022 Miami Open final where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz.
Photo credit: BNP Paribas Open Facebook
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