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Murray and Clijsters handed Indian Wells wildcards

Andy Murray and Kim Clijsters have been awarded wildcards for Indian Wells in October.

Andy Murray

California, October 1: Andy Murray and Kim Clijsters have been awarded wildcards for Indian Wells in October.

Former world number one Murray will take part in the Indian Wells Masters for the first time since 2017.

The Scot is competing in San Diego after opting to play the Moselle Open last week in a bid to improve his world ranking following a first-round loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open.

Murray has now been handed a chance to improve on his career-best semi-final finish at Indian Wells in 2015, while Clijsters will also feature at the event, which will take place from October 4-17.

Clijsters, another former world number one, started her comeback in 2019 after a seven-year break from tennis and will return to the tournament for the first time since 2011.

The four-time major champion underwent knee surgery last year and made her first WTA Tour appearance since the 2020 US Open at the Chicago Fall Tennis Classic this week, losing to Hsieh Su-Wei in the first round.

A two-time winner of the Indian Wells Open, Clijsters will be joined by Catherine McNally, Claire Liu, Katie Volynets and Katrina Scott. Newly crowned US Open champion Emma Raducanu was already a main-draw wildcard, with Ashlyn Krueger and Elsa Jacquemot also granted a place in the first round.

A trio of Americans will join Murray in the men's draw, namely Jack Sock, Jenson Brooksby and Zach Svajda, with Denmark's Holger Rune also handed his debut as a main-draw wildcard.

Murray stunned in San Diego

Meabwhile, Murray's stay in San Diego was short-lived, as the veteran fell to second seed Casper Ruud in straight sets on Thursday.

World number 10 Ruud prevailed 7-5, 6-4 over the three-time Grand Slam winner, rolling to victory after a shaky start.

Murray broke Ruud in the 22-year-old's second service game of the match, but could not maintain the advantage as Ruud converted five of six break points in the match.

Ruud will face ninth seed Lorenzo Sonego, who defeated Sebastian Korda 6-4, 6-3, saving six of seven break points against his own serve while converting all three of his chances on Korda's.

Fourth seed Denis Shapovalov defeated Taylor Fritz 7-6 (9-7), 6-2, saving six set points in the process.

The Canadian moves on to a quarterfinal meeting with Cameron Norrie, who downed Daniel Evans 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.

Grigor Dimitrov dominated August Holmgren 6-1, 6-1 in 56 minutes, winning 83 per cent of his service points.

Dimitrov next faces Aslan Karatsev, who rallied to upset fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Story first published: Friday, October 1, 2021, 14:23 [IST]
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