INDIAN WELLS – The first hurdle in the BNP Paribas Open draw has been jumped for Vasek Pospisil.
Now comes a big test, as the Canadian will meet world No. 1 Andy Murray Saturday night, in a big-stadium match that will allow him to measure the form and competitive attitude that seem to have returned after a desultory 2016.
Pospisil defeated Yen-Hsun Lu of Taipei 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-3 Thursday night with a varied attack designed to upset the metronome-like ground game of Lu, which can be impenetrable if he’s given the right material to work with. Pospisil tried not to give it to him, and he was successful.
To give you an idea, it’s only the second time Pospisil has won more than two matches at the ATP level (qualifying and main draw included) since … Valencia. In October, 2015. The other time was last October in Shanghai when he qualified, won two rounds and lost to Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.