Tomas Martin Etcheverry survived an awkward start and unreliable conditions to reach the next round at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship, edging qualifier Alex Bolt in three sets. The result reflected a clash between a heavy-hitting clay specialist and a low-risk, slice-oriented southpaw who found the conditions to his liking early.

Of this year’s field, Etcheverry entered with the most career clay-court wins, 56, while Bolt came in with none. Bolt, a 165th-ranked qualifier and the oldest player in the draw at 33, used an unusual, disruptive style and constant slice to keep the 26-year-old Argentine off balance. Etcheverry, who was runner-up at River Oaks Country Club in 2023 and captured his first tour title earlier this year at the ATP 500 in Rio de Janeiro, struggled at times to impose his game.

“Tough, tough conditions, said Etcheverry. “The ball moves a lot when I toss for the serve, and also for the rallies. Sometimes, was crazy. You just put the ball in the middle, I didn’t take any risk.”

Bolt broke through qualifying with two three-set victories and then defeated Wu Yibing in the main draw for his first career tour win on clay. He pushed Etcheverry to a tiebreak in the opening set, which Bolt claimed, but Etcheverry responded emphatically with a 6-0 second set. From there he held serve reliably while applying pressure until Bolt faltered at 3-4 in the decider. Etcheverry closed out the match 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-3.

Etcheverry noted Bolt’s net tendency and slice: “Lot of slice, came to the net,” said Etcheverry. “He did a good job today.” The victory highlighted Etcheverry’s ability to adapt when wind and variety threatened to slow his rhythm.

The short-form series “Confessional Cart” returned at the BNP Paribas Open with a roster of ATP and WTA players answering offbeat questions during rides back to the locker rooms. One recurring topic across the season was a light but pointed debate: what makes tennis the sexiest sport?

Atheistically and technically, I think it’s very nice to look at,” responded Casper Ruud. “I’ve seen tons of pictures of Roger being compared to like a ballerina or dancer.

Sights and sounds factored heavily in other players’ replies. “Because of grunts, because of muscles. And for sure, because of outfits,” felt Marta Kostyuk. The theme of attire returned in another voice: “We wear nice outfits. And it’s subtle, not too revealing but still kind of classy,” added Ajla Tomljanovic.

Beyond visuals, several players pointed to the raw emotion that the sport produces. Said Chris Eubanks, “The grunting, the emotion, the passion. I think it’s just the best all around sport when you combine men and women.” His comment captured a common throughline: tennis is experienced as a mixture of athletic display and personal intensity.

The conversation also leaned into the physicality and effort on display. “There is a lot of grunting and a lot of sweating. It’s one against one or sometimes two against two,” laughed Matteo Berrettini. “Cut that, cut that.”

The topic earned a concise endorsement from a fellow player. Tommy Paul asserted, “Matteo Berrettini. That’s why it’s the sexiest sport.”

Across brief segments on the series, players offered overlapping reasons: form, sound, clothing choices and emotional intensity. The format allowed candid, often humorous takes that do not arise in standard media sessions, and the BNP Paribas Open setting provided the backdrop for those informal conversations.

After two days of main-draw action, the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship presented an irregular picture. In singles, every first-round match has been completed except one: Roman Burruchaga vs. Adam Walton. That match is scheduled for noon tomorrow on Court 3.

Doubles play has produced a similar anomaly. Ben Shelton and Andres Andrade have already recorded two wins to reach the semifinals, while the top-seeded pairing of Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos has yet to play. Tournament scheduling has pushed Shelton onto court early this week to reduce conflict with his singles commitments.

Defending champion Jenson Brooksby has been eliminated, but otherwise seeded players avoided opening-round upsets. Tuesday brought several clear results: No. 5 Brandon Nakashima defeated Martin Damm; No. 6 Tomas Martin Etcheverry ousted compatriot Federico Agustin Gomez; and No. 7 Alex Michelsen beat Coleman Wong.

Etcheverry closed out a grinding three-set match by winning the last 10 points. Michelsen, by contrast, was never in danger against Wong, who made his name at last year’s US Open as the 21-year-old who became the first player from Hong Kong to win a Grand Slam main-draw match and then added another win. Wong fell 6-4, 6-2, but produced one of the day’s most remarkable returns: a drop shot hit with so much spin that it bounced and landed back on Wong’s side of the net. Return ace.

Michelsen came to the net to congratulate Wong before the opponent later returned the favor.

Order of play highlights:
Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs. Alex Bolt (not before 3 p.m. ET)
Thiago Agustin Tirante vs. Mackenzie McDonald (to follow)
Ben Shelton vs. Zhizhen Zheng (not before 7 p.m. ET)
Tommy Paul vs. Adolfo Daniel Vallejo (to follow)