Indian Wells: Kirsten Flipkens vs CiCi Bellis
Kirsten Flipkens takes on CiCi Bellis in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open.
Kirsten Flipkens takes on CiCi Bellis in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open.
An interview with Simona Halep after her win in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open.
INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Monica Puig dropped just two games against American wildcard Danielle Collins on her way to the second round at the BNP Paribas Open.
Puig put together a dominant performance against Collins to advance 6-0, 6-2 after just under an hour and ten minutes.
“I always like playing on center stage, I guess it’s where I feel most comfortable,” Puig said in her post-match interview. “I’m always happy to play in Indian Wells, it’s one of my favorite tournaments.”
It was a different story for Collins, who was playing in just her third main draw match of her career. She found herself outhit and out of her depth as she fell to the Olympic champion.
The 23-year-old American – a two-time NCAA singles winner at the University of Virginia – showed flashes of promise against Puig as she targeted the Puerto Rican’s backhand high over her shoulder. But she allowed Puig to dictate the pace and dominate the rallies.
.@MonicaAce93 cruises past Collins 6-0, 6-2!
Plays @KaPliskova next in @BNPPARIBASOPEN Second round! pic.twitter.com/nUyuWZWBq7
— WTA (@WTA) March 9, 2017
After being shut out of the first set after just 24 minutes, Collins rallied back to earn a confidence-boosting first break of the match to start the second set. But the joy was short lived as Puig came roaring back, grabbing the break right back to level the score before reeling off the last four games in a row for a spot in the second round.
“You never know what to expect – I used to play against [Collins] when I was like, ten years old. I haven’t played her in a few years so I needed some time to feel her out a bit. I found my groove and finished off strong,” Puig said.
Waiting in the second round is No.3 seed Karolina Pliskova – it was originally Serena Williams before she announced her withdrawal from the tournament and caused a reshuffling of seeds. Puig trails the Czech 0-3 in the pair’s win-loss record.
“For me it’s not really a huge change,” Puig said of having to play Pliskova instead of Serena. “I was already waiting on a difficult opponent if I made it to the second round, and I still got a difficult opponent in the second round.
“It doesn’t really change much; I’m familiar with Pliskova and I’ve played her a few times. Lost a few times, too. She’s near the top of the game right now because she’s an amazing player.”
An interview with Eugenie Bouchard after her second round win at the BNP Paribas Open.
The SAP Analytics for Coaches App has quickly become an essential tool for coaches and players through all three stages of a tennis match. Before the players even hit the court, the analytic insight gives teams an insider perspective on how to strategize for any given match.
“I look at the SAP app to see how the opponent is serving, how she’s placing the ball, and what she’s doing at crucial times,” said Torben Beltz, coach to World No.1 Angelique Kerber. “We try to focus on that to get Angie ready for the match.”
“We sit down together before the match to discuss the tactics against the next opponent,” Kerber added. “He’s able to explain with the technology where I can have more chances to go for it, and see how my opponents have been playing their matches that week.”
Watch the video above to hear how Kerber, Lucie Safarova, and Daria Gavrilova – in concert with their coaching teams – use SAP Tennis Analytics prepare for a match.
Former World No.7 Belinda Bencic and doubles No.1 Bethanie Mattek-Sands feature among the list of Miami Open main draw wildcards. Check out the full list right here on wtatennis.com!
Ana Ivanovic takes on Camila Giorgi in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open.
INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Croatian wildcard Donna Vekic vaulted past American Alison Riske, 6-3, 7-6(3), to book a second round clash with 2015 BNP Paribas Open champion Simona Halep.
“I’m so happy,” she told WTA Insider after the match. “It was a bit tough in the second set, but I got through it.”
A former World No.62, Vekic has struggled with inconsistency since stunning Dominika Cibulkova to win her maiden WTA title in Kuala Lumpur back in 2014. Still, the 21-year-old has show signs of regaining her momentum to start 2017, reaching the second round of the Australian Open and the round of 16 at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
“This year, I’ve played some pretty good tennis. My level is definitely there, but I need to be more consistent to have it from the first point. Sometimes you need three matches to get the confidence to play well, because in practice I’m playing great. It’s just a few more matches and I’m sure it’s going to come.
“I feel really fit. I had some practice time before coming here, so I’m hoping I can keep the tennis level up.”
.@DonnaVekic puts the backhand away! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/ACj1y5hOwa
— WTA (@WTA) March 10, 2017
Against Riske, she posted impressive numbers off return, winning 68% of the Shenzhen Open runner-up’s second serve points and breaking the American five times in one hour and 42 minutes – all under the watchful eye of 1997 French Open champion Iva Majoli, the first Croatian woman to win a major title.
“I love playing on big courts and stadiums. This court is amazing; I warmed up on it this morning and it was huge. But I really enjoyed my time out there tonight.
“I was more nervous than I felt before the match, so I didn’t find my game straight away. I was struggling a little bit throughout the match, but that’s because the conditions here are so different. It’s not easy to play here, and playing the American as a wildcard was tough.
“I was just trying to work through the points. I was struggling with my serve in the wind and that’s usually my advantage, how I get some free points. I just had to work through it, stay in the rallies and win the hard way.”
Great defense and winner from @DonnaVekic! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/QuSV6DSwPE
— WTA (@WTA) March 10, 2017
Looming in the next round is No.4 seed and former French Open finalist Simona Halep, who will be playing her first match since St. Petersburg after skipping the Middle East swing to heal a persistent knee injury.
“I’m going to have to play good. But I’m really excited; she’s a great player. I’ve had one match here, and it’s not easy to come out and play your first match. But she’s obvious a great player who has played well here before.”
.@DonnaVekic ousts Riske 6-3, 7-6 (2)!
Faces 2015 @BNPParibasOpen champ @Simona_Halep next! pic.twitter.com/2OhG8NvgIt
— WTA (@WTA) March 10, 2017
It wasn’t all bad news for the Americans; ASB Classic champion Lauren Davis survived a Swiss onslaught from Viktorija Golubic, winning, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Davis next plays No.22 seed Anastasija Sevastova, who is coming off a run to the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
.@LaurenDavis93 edges past Golubic 6-4, 4-6, 7-5! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/ppkWu5vk7z
— WTA (@WTA) March 10, 2017
Around the grounds, Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka impressed in her Indian Wells main draw debut, knocking out countrywoman and qualifier Risa Ozaki, 6-4, 6-2, to book a second round clash with No.30 seed and former Australian Open quarterfinalist Zhang Shuai.
Shenzhen champion Katerina Siniakova recovered from a set down to defeat the resurgent Mona Barthel, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, while former World No.5 Lucie Safarova kicked off play on Court 4 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena.
Safarova will next play No.20 seed CoCo Vandeweghe, who is coming off a major breakthrough in Melbourne, where she reached the semifinals.
An interview with Agnieszka Radwanska after her win in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.
Aliaksandra Sasnovich takes on Karolina Pliskova in the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open.