By Canadian Press

Pospisil retires with injury, Shapovalov advances at Indian Wells

Oct 9, 2021 | 5:41 PM

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — A matchup between two Canadians came to a premature end at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Cali., Saturday. 

Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., advanced to the third round after Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil retired with an injury early in the first set.

Pospisil was trailing 2-0 when he appeared to hurt his lower back on a serve and took a medical time out. 

He returned to the court after spending several minutes with a trainer but struggled with his serve and had seven double faults before bowing out with Shapovalov up 3-0. 

Shapovalov, the No. 9 seed, jumped out to an early lead, breaking Pospisil in the very first game. 

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The 22-year-old will face either Italy’s Salvatore Caruso or No. 19 seed Aslan Karatsev of Russia in the round of 32. 

Pospisil, 31, edged American J.J. Wolf 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a first-round match Thursday, but lost his cool in the second set and repeatedly smashed his racked on the court.

Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., was scheduled to face American Alison Riske later on Saturday. 

Andreescu, the No. 16 seed, is the tournament’s reigning champion, having won the event the last time it was held in 2019. The 2020 iteration was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Montreal’s Leylah Fernandez, seeded 23rd in the tournament, is set to take on No. 9 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in the round of 32.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2021. 

The Canadian Press