Carlos Alcaraz downs Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach Indian Wells last 16, Stefanos Tsitsipas through

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2 6-3 at Indian Wells on Sunday afternoon to move into the last 16.

Alcaraz reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open back in January, but failed to successfully defend his Argentina Open title last month, and then retired from the Rio Open with an ankle problem.

Auger-Aliassime reached the third round in Melbourne, and having fallen down the men’s rankings to No. 30, is eyeing a sustained run of good form to move back up.

The pair went toe-to-toe for the first four games, before the world No. 2 broke to go 5-2 to clear and put the pressure on the Canadian to keep pace.

Auger-Aliassime was unable to resist the Spaniard’s charge however and lost the first set, and the momentum stayed with Alcaraz as he broke in the first game of the second set.

Alcaraz pushed hard for a second break but Auger-Aliassime hung on at deuce to go 3-2 behind with Alcaraz still to serve.

Alcaraz’s more incisive play was reflected by his conversion of three out of six potential breaks, while his rival could not convert his single opportunity, and with four double faults from Auger-Aliassime, he was rarely able to threaten an upset as he saw his opponent win through.

“I think he didn’t get that many points with his serves. I think he lives with his serve,” Alcaraz said of his win.

“I put almost every return in, playing the point. I felt that I’m better than him from the baseline, putting some good points on the court and I think it went well. I played aggressive with less mistakes. I think it was almost a perfect match for me.”

Elsewhere on Sunday, Daniil Medvedev beat Roberto Carballes Baena in straight sets, as he chased the last remaining hard-court Masters 1000 event he is yet to bag in his career.

The world No. 4 needed just under 90 minutes to complete his victory.

“It was not an easy match,” he said. “The rallies are slow here so 1:30 for 6-2, 6-3 is pretty long. But I know how to play well in these long rallies. I think I had the match under control. He managed to play one very good game at 4-2, but I was like, ‘OK, I just have to continue’, and I managed to find a way.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas got past Frances Tiafoe 6-3 6-3 with little trouble, with the defeat meaning that the beaten American will drop out of the world’s top 20.

Alex de Minaur was victorious over Alexander Bublik, and Fabian Marozsan won 6-2 6-2 over Thiago Seyboth Wild.

The round-of-16 matches will take place on Tuesday.