RICKY DIMON REPORTS ON THE U.S. TENNIS PLAYERS ON FIRE IN INDIAN WELLS: YOUNG, SOCK, JOHNSON, SERENA, SLOANE & MORE

Written by: Staff on 16th March 2015

RICKY DIMON REPORTS ON THE U.S. TENNIS PLAYERS ON FIRE IN INDIAN WELLS: YOUNG, SOCK, JOHNSON, SERENA, SLOANE & MORE |

Donald Young Jr. during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the 2015 BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells. Photo by Alejandro Gonzalez.

American women playing well is nothing new, although they have not been quite as successful at the BNP Paribas Open as in other spots because of the absences of Serena and Venus Williams.

Serena, of course, is back this year and already into the fourth round. She is joined there by Sloane Stephens, and the familiar foes will face each other for a place in the quarterfinals.

Sloane Stephens of USA in action against Angelique Kerber of Germany during their second round match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 13 March 2015. Stephens won the match. EPA/MICHAEL NELSON

It is the American men, though, who have been especially surprising in Indian Wells. Four made it to the third round: John Isner, Donald Young, Jack Sock, and Steve Johnson. Young, Sock, and Johnson have already won two matches, whereas Isner got a first-round bye.

A red-hot Young reached the Memphis semifinals and finished runner-up in Delray Beach before being named to the U.S. Davis Cup team. The Atlanta resident maintained his fine form by upsetting No. 31 seed Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday.

“It’s a big win for me,” Young commented. “Every win at this level is a big win. I don’t think he played his best. I thought I competed well. I’m…a little more consistent (than in previous years), playing good match after another one, battling through tough situations.”

Jack Sock of the USA in action against Japan’s Kei Nishikori during their second round match at the Shanghai Tennis Masters in Shanghai, China, 08 October 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL

Sock has persevered through multiple tough situations in 2015. Not only has he been sidelined with a hip injury, but his brother also fell ill with bilateral pneumonia and nearly died (Eric is now on his way to a full recovery). Sock is playing for the first time this year and has so far taken out Yen-Hsun Lu and Gilles Muller.

The 2014 Wimbledon doubles champion alongside Vasek Pospisil, Sock pulled out three-setters both times. He saved one match point against Muller on Sunday before prevailing 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(7).

“I feel good,” Sock said. “I said before the tournament this is probably the best I’ve felt physically and mentally, having the time off and being able to put in almost eight or nine weeks training, I think it’s shown out there.”

Johnson has been in absolute cruise-control in the desert. The former University of Southern California standout erased Marcel Granollers in straight sets then took down Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 7-6(5) in round two.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Atp, BNP Paribas Open, Donald Young jr, Indian Wells, jack sock, Ricky Dimon, Serena Williams, Sloane Stephens, Tennis News, Wta

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10sBalls_com says:

March 16, 2015 at 1:15 pm

-@Dimonator REPORTS ON THE U.S. #TENNIS PLAYERS ON FIRE IN #IndianWells: @Yimlife1313, @JackSock & MORE- http://t.co/SmSQRtpT5I #BNPPO15