Indian Wells Masters Matchups: Two Rising ATP Stars Clash

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MARCH 02: Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece plays a shot in his Men's Singles Final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day fourteen of the Dubai Duty Free Championships at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium March 02, 2019 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MARCH 02: Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece plays a shot in his Men's Singles Final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during day fourteen of the Dubai Duty Free Championships at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium March 02, 2019 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) /
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Action at the 2019 Indian Wells Masters is underway. Here’s a look at a round of 64 matchup that features two of the sport’s rising stars.

Two of the ATP Tour’s rising stars meet in the round of 64 at the 2019 Indian Wells Masters. 18-year-old Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime wins his opener over Cameron Norrie. The young Canadian has become a player to watch after he reached the finals at the Rio Open last month. His straight set victory over Norrie sets up a meeting with Stefanos Tsitsipas next.

Auger Aliassime wins his opener with ease, going 6-3, 6-2. He cannot take his round of 64 match with Tsitsipas lightly though. The Greek tennis star is the ninth seed this year at the Indian Wells Masters. He is looking to make a statement at the tournament.

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Tsitsipas is fresh off of a fantastic run of tennis at the 2019 Dubai Tennis Championships. There, he defeated the likes of Matthew Ebden, Egor Gerasimov, Hubert Hurkacz, and Gael Monfils before meeting Swiss legend Roger Federer in the finals.

Federer, the greatest champion in men’s singles ever to play Dubai, would win his eighth title at the event. The win also made it 100 career men’s singles titles for Federer. Despite Tsitsipas’s strong stretch at the tournament, he was bested by the best.

Indian Wells provides Tsitsipas another opportunity to assert himself on the ATP Tour. He is already a top player in men’s singles but a deep run this month could catapult him even higher. Recently cracking the ATP Top 10, the young Greek tennis star should have his sights set on the top five and then the top three.

A win over Auger Aliassime is not guaranteed though. The 18-year-old phenom has come out of seemingly nowhere. Floating above the ATP Top 100 prior to and at the start of the year, his recent success has put him all the way up to the world number 58 position in men’s singles tennis. He, just like Tsitsipas, is here to stay. What’s interesting to note is that the Canadian does have a history of success against Tsitsipas on the juniors circuit. Will that translate over?

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Stay tuned to see who advances between Tsitsipas and Auger Aliassime. The two square off at Indian Wells on Saturday. Check back for updates on all of the action at the event.