It seemed obvious that for two-time Indian Wells champion Daniela Hantuchova to upset defending champion Victoria Azarenka, she would have to win the first set. And for quite a while, it looked like Hantuchova had a shot at doing that. She quickly went up 4-1 in the first set, the world number 2 struggled with her serve and also strugged with Hantuchova's court coverage skills.
It was no surprise, however, that Azarenka tightened her game, while Hantuchova--and really, who is surprised?--came unraveled. Azarenka won 6-4, 6-1, and advanced to the third round, in which she will play Kirsten Flipkens.
Lucie Safarova and Ekaterina Makarova, the 16th and 17 seeds, were both upset in the second round. In the third round, the two top-half match-ups that interest me the most are Nadia Petrova vs. Julia Goerges, and Ana Ivanovic (and her beautiful tennis skirt) vs. Mona Barthel.
It's been chilly in Indian Wells, and many players have one onto the court "Vika style," with leggings on. Speaking of Azarenka, her Indian Wells promotional piece on Tennis Channel is terrific.
How under-appreciated is Sam Stosur's candor? When asked if she thought she could win another major, she said yes, but that, right now, she'd like to win anything. Always a breath of fresh air is Stosur.
3 comments:
Jes' came 'cross this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMk0vRZAARQ
There is nobody in the history of the game who can or could do this with any regularity. Only Petra.
Let's hope that she's back to stay.
The footwork is great there!
I assume you've seen the Wimbledon compilation of winners; that is beautiful, too.
Thanks for the link!
The Tennis Channel did a terrifc biography of Petra Kvitova.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he0-5xRma2c
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