Indian Wells Masters: Dimitrov overcomes Monfils in third set tiebreak

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the No 14 seed, edged out Frenchman Gael Monfils 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (2) in just over three hours to reach the last 16 of the Indian Wells Masters on Monday night.

This was the third win for Dimitrov over Monfils in seven career meetings. He is now through to the last 16 here for the fourth time in the last five years.

Dimitrov, ranked No 15, will face Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the second seed, next. The Spaniard leads 3-2 in their head-to-head with the Bulgarian has won their last two clashes.

In the previous round, the 33-year-old Bulgarian won against Portuguese Nuno Borges (6-3, 6-4).

Monfils, ranked No 42, beat German Jan-Lennard Struff (6-4, 6-4) and American Sebastian Korda, the No 24 seed (7-6 (2), 7-6 (4)) earlier in the week.

Indian Wells Masters 1000, other third-round results (Indian Wells Tennis Garden, hard, USD 13,042,410):

• Carlos Alcaraz beat Denis Shapovalov (27): 6-2, 6-4
• Ben Shelton (11) beat Karen Khachanov (22): 6-3, 7-5
• Brandon Nakashima (32) beat Matteo Arnaldi: 6-2, 6-4
• Taylor Fritz (3) beat Alejandro Tabilo (30): 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
• Alex De Minaur (9) beat Hubert Hurkacz (21): 6-4, 6-0
• Francisco Cerundolo (25) beat Botic van de Zandschulp (LL): 6-3, 6-4
• Jack Draper (13) beat Jenson Brooksby: 7-5, 6-4
• Yosuke Watanuki (Q) beat Frances Tiafoe (16): 6-4, 7-6 (6)
• Arthur Fils (20) beat Lorenzo Musetti (15): 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3
• Holger Rune (12) beat Ugo Humbert (18): 5-7, 6-4, 7-5
• Daniil Medvedev (5) beat Alex Michelsen (31): 2-0 ret.
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) beat Matteo Berrettini (28): 6-3, 6-3
• Marcos Giron beat Alexei Popyrin (26): 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
• Tommy Paul (10) beat Cameron Norrie: 6-3, 7-5
• Tallon Griekspoor beat Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (29): 7-6 (3), 6-3

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