Goffin Reaches Semifinals Over Cilic

David Goffin is through to his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semifinal after beating Marin Cilic 7-6(4), 6-2 on Thursday at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
The Belgian backed up his fourth-round win over third seed Stan Wawrinka, which lasted almost two and a half hours on Wednesday, to beat Cilic in one hour and 38 minutes. Goffin saved 11 of the 12 break points he faced to beat the Croat for the second time this month, having also bested him on the eve of Indian Wells in Davis Cup action.
The 25-year-old Goffin goes on to face either Milos Raonic or Gael Monfils as he bids to reach the biggest final of his career.

 

Serena Williams Sets Radwanska Clash

Serena Williams thought Wednesday night’s match in the BNP Paribas Open against defending champion
Simona Halep could be a measuring stick. What it seemed to be measuring was the distance between Williams and the rest of the WTA.
Halep played fine, but she couldn’t do much in losing 6-4, 6-3 to Williams in 68 minutes.
“I'm happy to be able to close that one out,” Williams said. “Obviously I think there are always things that I would like to work on to do better, but overall I think it was a solid win for me.”
“She knows how to play in big stadiums and big matches, big games,” Williams said. “Obviously she does everything so well, including running, and this is a good surface for her because it's a slow surface. I think I expect there will be a lot of long rallies.

“Honestly, I will be ready. I really like Aga on and off the court. I think she's super exciting to watch on the court, and off the court I think she's really one of the nicest people. Regardless, I think it will be a really good match-up.” 
Williams said that she had noticed Radwanska’s consistency this year. With her victory over Kvitova, that makes it four semifinals in all four tournaments she’s played this year. Radwanska won a title in Shenzhen and lost to Williams in the Australian Open semifinal 6-0, 6-4.
“She's been so consistent. I was thinking she should be (ranked) higher,” Williams said. “It's unfortunate it can't be a final, but we'll see how it goes.

“I don't think she's won this tournament yet, but obviously she probably wants to. We will see how that goes.”

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Djokovic Beats Lopez, Faces Tsonga in Quarterfinals

After losing to Feliciano Lopez just three weeks ago, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic was ruthless in his
dismissal of the Spaniard on Wednesday evening at the BNP Paribas Open, reaching the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-3 victory on Stadium 1.
Djokovic advanced in just 66 minutes, winning 75 per cent of his service points and breaking Lopez three times from six opportunities. Lopez is the only man to beat Djokovic this season, when the Serb retired due to an eye problem after the first set of their Dubai quarterfinal last month.
"I have respect for his game, which definitely made me very cautious of approaching this match and made me very determined to impose my game plan from the very beginning," said Djokovic.

"Obviously trying to be patient and wait for the opportunities, and when they presented, I needed to capitalize on them. Which I did.

"I don't think he has played on the level that he can, but I just think that I made him play an extra shot, which is very important against players like him. I was very solid. I didn't allow him to come to the net too many times. It was a good performance."
Lopez had earned his place in the Round of 16 after an epic victory over fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut on Tuesday, in a match lasting three hours and 16 minutes. The 34-year-old Lopez is back in action Thursday when he and Marc Lopez team up in the doubles quarterfinals against Australian Open champions Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares.

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Nadal Beats Zverev From a Matchpoint Down to Reach Quarterfinals

Former world no.1, three times champion Rafael Nadal advances through the quarterfinals of BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) 2016. Spaniard defeats german Alexander Zverev in three sets (6-7; 6-0; 7-5). Nadal comeback from a matchpoint down to beat Zverev, as he reaches QF. In quarterfinal, spaniard will meet winner of John Isner vs Kei Nishikori.

Cilic Beats Gasquet to Reach Quarterfinals

It took two hours and 15 minutes, but 10th seed Marin Cilic ultimately prevailed over eighth seed Richard Gasquet, reaching the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals with a 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 victory on Wednesday in

The Croat let by a set and 5-3, but Gasquet reeled off four straight games to level the contest. Cilic regained the advantage in the sixth game of the decider, though, and didn't falter as he went on to close out his 12th win of the season.

The 27-year-old Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion (d. Nishikori), is through to the quarterfinals at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the first time and goes on to face David Goffin, who pulled off his second career win over a Top 10 player against World No. 4 Stan Wawrinka, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5) on Stadium 2.
Indian Wells.

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Wawrinka out of Indian Wells

Swiss tennis player, world no.4 Stan Wawrinka is out of BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) 2016. Wawrinka got defeated by David Goffin in three sets (3-6; 7-5; 6-7).

Djokovic Holds off Kohlschreiber; Thiem Tops Sock

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic fended off a late fightback from Philipp Kohlschreiber to book his place in the BNP Paribas Open fourth round with a 7-5, 7-5 victory on Tuesday night at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The 28-year-old Djokovic goes on to face the only man to have beaten him all year - Feliciano Lopez - on Wednesday for a spot in the quarterfinals. Lopez scored a rare win over Djokovic in the Dubai quarterfinals last month, when the Serb retired with an eye problem after losing the first set.
Djokovic is chasing an unprecedented fifth Indian Wells crown and his third in a row. The Belgrade native moved to a 43-6 tournament record as he edged Kohlschreiber in one hour and 39 minutes.

Djokovic let slip a 5-2 lead in the second set, squandering four match points as he served for victory in the ninth game. But the right-hander broke Kohlschreiber decisively in the 12th game to seal victory - his eighth in nine meetings with the No. 30-ranked Kohlschreiber.
"I allowed myself twice to lose serve when I was a break up in both sets," said Djokovic. "Those things cannot happen. I cannot allow myself any more to react that way in those particular circumstances.

"I was fortunate today to manage to win in straight sets. But Kohlschreiber is an experienced player. He has played so many times on the big occasions, so he knows how to capitalize on the opportunities and come back into the match.

"I just put myself in a very difficult position after that. But there are more positive things I can take out of this match today comparing it with the first one."
Djokovic has an 18-1 match record this season, highlighted by the title in Doha (d. Nadal) and his 11th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open (d. Murray).
Dominic Thiem finished strongly to defeat Jack Sock 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-1 in a third-round contest between two of the ATP World Tour’s most exciting young talents. The 22-year-old Austrian responded to the loss of a tight second set by reeling off five games in a row. Sock broke back as Thiem served for the match, but the right-hander immediately struck again to claim victory in two hours and 14 minutes.
Thiem has been one of the form players on the ATP World Tour in 2016, surging to a career-high World No. 13 after beating Rafael Nadal en route to the Buenos Aires title and winning his first ATP World Tour 500 crown in Acapulco.
Next up for the Austrian, as he looks to reach his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 quarterfinal, will be Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The seventh-seeded Tsonga defeated home favorite Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-4 in 74 minutes.

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Azarenka Holds Off Stosur

Victoria Azarenka tamped down a second-set surge from Samantha Stosur to extend her head-to-head dominance over the Australian and book herself a spot in the BNP Paribas Open quarterfinals.
Victoria Azarenka tamped down a second-set surge from Samantha Stosur to win 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, extending her head-to-head dominance over the Australian and booking herself a spot in the BNP Paribas Open quarterfinals.
Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Indian Wells right here on wtatennis.com!
Stosur and Azarenka are familiar opponents, having faced each other nine times previously. Though the Belarusian's eight consecutive wins over Stosur give her a clear advantage, the aggressive way in which she came out firing tonight certainly turned heads - although not for her.
"Not really. I'm not surprised," laughed Azarenka, who in the first set alone created 12 break opportunities and converted three. "I try to stay in the moment for every point. Sam is such a tough player, she has such a tough serve, so whenever I had the opportunity I take it."
After seeing the first set whiz past her in barely half an hour, Stosur managed to stave off Azarenka's momentum in the second. She opened the set by breaking to love, taking advantage of the unforced errors that were beginning to pile up off the Belarusian's racquet. She left Azarenka playing catch-up, taking the second set to level the scoreboard.
Azarenka turned on the pressure in the deciding set, though, and there was not much the Australian could do as Azarenka's aggressive play forced her to go for bigger shots, drawing out the errors. Stosur hit 37 unforced errors to 32 winners, compared to Azarenka's 24 and 25.
With the victory Azarenka is back into the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open, her first appearance at this stage since 2013.
"I'm just so happy to be back on the court after a tough two years of injuries and really missing the game, missing competition. Sometimes you get a little bit of a different perspective, so I just want to enjoy myself on the court," Azarenka said after the match.
"I'm in a different stage in my career, where I can just play for fun and fight hard and try to do the best I can."
Awaiting in the quarterfinals is Magdalena Rybarikova, who advanced against Roberta Vinci after the Italian was forced to retire in the second set due to a left foot injury, 6-2, 2-0. Azarenka leads the head-to-head against Rybarikova 2-0.

Source: WTA Tennis

Serena Williams Marches On at Indian Wells to meet Halep in QF

World No. 1 Serena Williams continued her quest for a third BNP Paribas Open crown after dismissing qualifier Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2, 6-2 in the fourth round on Tuesday.
The 34 year old, who lifted the Indian Wells crown in 1999 (d. Graf) and 2001 (d. Clijsters), fired seven aces over the match spanning 72 minutes on Stadium 1. The 21-time Grand Slam champion improves 3-0 against the Ukrainian and will play defending champion Simona Halep for a place in the semifinals.

"I really like her game," said Williams about Halep. "I like how she's aggressive. She's a fighter. I definitely have to be ready.

"It'll be a really good match I think for both of us to kind of see where we want to be at at this point in the year."


The Romanian Halep advanced to third straight quarterfinal in the desert after Barbora Strycova retired from their fourth-round clash while trailing 3-6, 0-1.

"I expect a tough one, of course," said Halep about Williams. "She's very strong. I know her pretty well. We played each other many times."

Williams leads their head-to-head series 6-1. In their most recent meeting, Williams defeated Halep 6-3, 7-6(5) in the 2015 Western & Southern Open final in Cincinnati.

"I know that it's gonna be tough to win, but still, I have my chance," added Halep. "I believe that I have my chance, and I just have to go to play my best, to try everything to win.

"I think I have to do my game like I did every day since I came to the U.S.: aggressive, not very strong. I don't hit very strong. I just take the ball fast. I move well. I hit with confidence. Also, the serve is going well.

"So I feel okay. I feel that I have the game to play against her. We will see tomorrow. It's tough. I repeat that, because it's normal to be tough. She's No. 1 in the world."

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Nadal Advances Over Verdasco at Indian Wells

Former world no.1, spaniard Rafael Nadal advances through the next round of BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) 2016. Nadal beats his compatriot Fernando Verdasco in straight sets (6-0; 7-6). Next round Nadal will face german Alexander Zverev.

Radwanska Edges Jankovic at Indian Wells

Polish tennis female player, world no.3 Agnieszka Radwanska advanced in quarterfinals of BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) 2016. Radwanska beats serbian jelena Jankovic with 2-0 in sets (6-3; 6-3)

Kvitova Reaches Indian Wells Quarterfinals

World No. 9 Petra Kvitova ended the run of qualifier Nicole Gibbs 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday.
The Czech left-hander struck more than twice the number of winners than her American opponent (27 to 11) and won 18 of 25 points at net to tie up the match in just over two hours. With the victory, the two-time Wimbledon champion equals her best performance in Indian Wells (2013 QFs, l. to Kirilenko).


“It’s always tough coming back after losing the first [set],” said Kvitova on court after the match. “We both played really well in the third set so I was happy to get the win.”

The 26 year old will vie for her place in the final four against 2014 runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska, who defeated 2010 champion Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-3.

Other WTA stars slated to play their fourth-round matches today include World No. 1 Serena Williams, defending champion Simona Halep, and ninth seed Roberta Vinci.

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Nishikori and Zverev Win at Indian Wells

Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori and german Alexander Zverev advance through the next round of BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) 2016. Nishikori beats Steve Johnson with 2-0 in sets (7-6; 7;6) while Alexander zverev defeats french Gilles Simon in straight sets (6-2; 6-2).

Wawrinka Advances at Indian Wells

Reigning French Open champion Stan Wawrinka won his third round match at the ATP Tour Indian Wells tournament on Monday, defeating Russian Andrey Kuznetsov 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
World No. 4 Wawrinka advances to the fourth round where he will face 15th seeded David Goffin of Belgium who beat Guido Pella 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Gasquet Defeats Dolgopolov From a Set Down

Richard Gasquet defeated Alexandr Dolgopolov in three sets to book his spot in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.

Frenchman Richard Gasquet came from a set behind to defeat Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 on Stadium two to book his spot in round four of the BNP Paribas Open. 

Berdych Beats Coric at Indian Wells

Tomas Berdych survived a late comeback from Borna Coric on Monday evening at the BNP Paribas Open to book his spot in the fourth round with a 6-1, 7-6(3) victory.
The sixth-seeded Czech led by a double break at 4-1 in the second set and held two match points when he served at 5-4, but ultimately claimed victory in the tie-break after Next Generation star Coric fought back.
The 30-year-old Berdych advances to a meeting with Milos Raonic, whom he trails 2-3 in their head-to-head. The right-hander is making his 12^th appearance at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, highlighted by a semifinal showing in 2013 (l. to Nadal).

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Bouchard out, Azarenka to Face Stosur

Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky secured her place in the round of 16 of BNP Paribas Open after toughing out a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 win over Eugenie Bouchard on Monday.
The Swiss World No. 21, a quarterfinalist in Indian Wells last year (l. to S. Williams), took a nasty fall in the first game of the second set and received a medical timeout to have her cuts bandaged. The 26 year old broke her Canadian opponent six times during the contest lasting two hours and 22 minutes.

Bacsinszky will meet Russian Daria Kasatkina, a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2) winner over Portugal's Monica Puig. This will be the first meeting between the two players.

After suffering a concussion at the US Open last year, Bouchard played only one one other match for the rest of the season. She has since rebounded to start the year, reaching the quarterfinals in Doha and finals in Kuala Lumpur (l. to Svitolina) and Hobart (l. to Cornet).

"It's a long road back; doing better than expected," Bouchard said. "I feel better about my game. Whether the results come or not."
On Stadium 2, No. 26 seed Samantha Stosur also contested a match that stretched past the two-hour mark. The former semifinalist (’10, l. to Jankovic) edged Christina McHale 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Stosur will next face the 2012 champion, Victoria Azarenka, who was tested from the baseline, but played with flashes of her former No. 1 self in a 6-4, 6-3 decision over 2016 success story Zhang Shuai. Azarenka ended the match on a patented forehand winner crosscourt, letting out a cry of “Come on!” as she sealed the victory.

The Belarusian leads her head-to-head with Stosur 8-1, though they haven’t met in nearly three years. It was the Australian who won that most recent meeting, 6-2, 6-3 in Carlsbad.

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Andy Murray Crashes out of Indian Wells

World no.2, british Andy Murray is out of ATP BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) 2016. Murray got
defeated by argentinian Federico Delbonis in three sets (4-6; 6-4; 6-7). That was Andy Murray's first defeat to a left-hander not named Nadal since 2011, ending a 39-match win streak.

WTA Indian Wells Ana Ivanovic vs Karolina Pliskova Highlights

Ana Ivanovic out of Indian Wells

Former world no.1, serbian tennis female player Ana Ivanovic is out from WTA BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) 2016. Ivanovic easily got defeated by Karolina Pliskova with 2-0 in sets (6-2; 6-0).
More to follow...

Simona Halep vs Ekaterina Makarova Indian Wells 2016 Highlights

Indian Wells 2016 - Novak Djokovic vs Bjorn Fratangelo Highlights

Nadal vs. Muller Indian Wells Highlights

Watch highlights from match Nadal vs. Muller, as Nadal triumphs in three sets (6-2; 2-6; 6-4)

WTA BNP Paribas Open Day 4 Highlights

Source: WTA Tennis

Verdasco Ready for Nadal Challenge

Sometimes all it takes is a win to change the tenor of a rivalry, or at least that was the case for Fernando Verdasco against Rafael Nadal.
Friends for about 17 years, Nadal was the phenomenon in Spain, and Verdasco was the older and very talented player.
But as professionals, Nadal won the first 13 meetings, although Verdasco would play him close, like his 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 loss in Cincinnati in 2011, or his 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 loss in the semifinals of the 2009 Australian Open.
Verdasco picked up his first win over Nadal in the Round of 16 at Madrid in 2012. Since then, Verdasco has a 3-1 advantage over Nadal, including the shocking 7-6(5), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 comeback victory in the first round of the Australian Open in January.
“I was so close, but I never won,” Verdasco said after advancing to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open when Martin Klizan had to retire with an ankle injury. “Maybe winning that match in Madrid gave me belief I can win, not just come close to winning. At the end, that’s the difference between winning and losing. You have to trust you can win.
“I have more confidence in my game, believe more in myself. I did it before and I can do it again.”
Verdasco will get that chance again on Tuesday when he and Nadal resume their rivalry. Nadal reached the third round after beating Gilles Muller 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 on Sunday night.
With their history, Verdasco knows it will be a draining match, both physically and mentally.
“He always pushes you to the limit and you have to be ready for that,” Verdasco said. “You have to be so focused every point because he’s so focused every point. That level of focus and physical instability for five hours is a long time. Of course it takes a lot of energy and leaves your body low on energy and everything. It’s not just physical, but emotional.”
For Nadal, he knows he will have his hands full against Verdasco and will be prepared for a tough match.
“He’s a great player with an amazing potential,” Nadal said. “We know each other very well, and I know the way to have success against him is to play very well. That’s what I’m going to try.”
Verdasco’s victory over Nadal in Australia took a toll. Unable to maintain the same level, Verdasco lost to Dudi Sela in the next round.
After Australia, Verdasco had issues with a bulging disc and inflammation in his neck, forcing him to pull out of Buenos Aires and Rio.
So far, Verdasco said he’s been feeling good and hasn’t had problems with his neck.
In addition to having a rivalry with Nadal, he’s also developing a partnership. Verdasco and Nadal started playing doubles together in Toronto last year. Nadal and Verdasco want to play together for the Olympics this summer.
On Saturday, Nadal and Verdasco played a thrilling first-round match against Bob and Mike Bryan before falling 3-6, 7-5, [10-8]. Ironically, Nadal and Verdasco lost to the Bryans in Toronto as well, by an identical 10-8 score in the super tiebreaker.

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Djokovic Passes Fratangelo Test

World No. 149 Bjorn Fratangelo gave Novak Djokovic a stern test on Sunday at the BNP Paribas Open, stretching the world's best player the distance in their second-round clash.
The 22-year-old Fratangelo showed little sign of nerves as he took the first set from Djokovic before the World No. 1 ultimately claimed a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory in one hour and 46 minutes in front of an enthralled crowd on Stadium 1.
"I must admit that he has played really good tennis, especially in the first set," said Djokovic. "He came out with a good game plan, knowing what to do.

"I started awful. Haven't played really great except in the second set. Other than that, just finding a way to win.

"Today is one of those days where you don't feel the ball well. It was swirly conditions, and just being tough. Trying to win with experience and with toughness in the clutch moments. That's what helped me to prevail.

"The fifth game of the third [set] was the deciding one. That break obviously meant that I can start to feel a bit more comfortable, play a little bit more aggressive on the court. All in all, it was just not a great performance.

"But, you have to deal with it, accept it. A win is a win. Hopefully the next one will be better."
Fratangelo had won his first tour-level match when he defeated Teymuraz Gabashvili in the first round at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
The 28-year-old Djokovic is chasing a record fifth title at the BNP Paribas Open, where he lifted the trophy in 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2015.
Djokovic has lost just one match all year, when he was forced to retire with an eye problem in the Dubai quarter-finals. The Belgrade native opened the season with victories in Doha (d. Nadal) and at the Australian Open (d. Murray). He goes on to face Philipp Kohlschreiber, who routed Denis Kudla 6-0, 6-1 in just 45 minutes.

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Nadal Wins at Indian Wells

Three-time champion Rafael Nadal prevailed in a gripping three-set tussle with Gilles Muller on Sunday night at the BNP Paribas Open, advancing to the third round with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory on Stadium 1.
Both players created a spate of break points, but Nadal saved 11 of the 14 he faced to advance in two hours and 12 minutes. The Spaniard broke Muller in the final game of the match, converting his third match point
"It was very tough conditions out there," said Nadal. "I'm very happy for the victory after the last three matches that I lost have been in three sets or five sets. So I needed a victory like this. Very happy for that.

"Very happy about the attitude during the whole match. Have been very tough to play with that conditions and against a player who serves very well and who goes to the net. It's obvious these conditions help the player who normally plays less from the baseline. So just was a great victory for me.

"Especially the last two games of the match were very important, obviously. I was able to play more aggressive with more determination. That's something that stays in my mind and is very positive."
The 29-year-old Nadal has a 45-8 tournament record at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, lifting the trophy in 2007, 2009 and most recently in 2013, when he defeated Juan Martin del Potro.
Next up for Nadal is his doubles partner Fernando Verdasco, with whom he lost in the first round against Bob and Mike Bryan in a thrilling contest on Saturday evening. The last time Nadal and Verdasco met, Verdasco stunned his countryman with a five-set victory in the first round of the Australian Open.

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Serena Williams Advances at BNP Paribas Open

Serena Williams edged Yulia Putintseva in a tight first set before stepping on the gas to secure a 7-6(2), 6-0 over the Kazakh in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday.
"I was just trying to find my rhythm out there," said Williams, a two-time champion in Indian Wells ('99, '01). "[I was] trying my best to not get off to a slow start. Then I got broken really early and I couldn't manage to break back.

"But I was just trying to fight out there and do what I could."

Next up for the World No. 1 is qualifier Kateryna Bondarenko, winner over fellow Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(7) in a match lasting nearly three hours

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Radwanska Into Fourth Round at BNP Paribas Open

Polish tennis female player, world No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska continued her quest for the BNP Paribas Open crown with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Monica Niculescu on Sunday.
The Pole, a finalist here in 2014 (l. to Pennetta), broke her Romanian opponent five times in the 87-minute battle. She awaits the winner between Jelena Jankovic, last year’s runner-up and the 2010 champion, and Southern California resident CoCo Vandeweghe.

Murray Races Through Opener; Coric Sets Berdych Clash

Andy Murray cruised into the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden as he defeated Marcel Granollers 6-4, 7-6(3).
"It was very different conditions to what I have been practicing and playing in in the past five weeks, against a tough, unorthodox player," said Murray. "He's got quite a different game. He's very smart player, as well, intelligent player, and often makes the right decisions. He made it tough for me."
Murray and his wife, Kim Sears, became parents to Sophia Olivia on 7 February, just one week after the Scot finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final. He returned to action last week to lead Great Britain through the first round of the Davis Cup against Japan.
The 28-year-old Murray reached the final of this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in 2009 (l. to Nadal) and notched his 25th win in the desert as he broke serve twice from 10 opportunities to clinch victory in one hour and 41 minutes.
#NextGen star Borna Coric set a third-round clash with sixth seed Tomas Berdych as he dismissed 29th seed Thomaz Bellucci 6-2, 6-2 in 87 minutes. The 19-year-old Coric reached his first ATP World Tour final in the first week of the season in Chennai (l. to Wawrinka).
Bernard Tomic will face Milos Raonic after defeating Rajeev Ram 6-4, 7-5. The 23-year-old Tomic has enjoyed a strong start to the season, highlighted by reaching his first ATP World Tour 500 final in Acapulco (l. to Thiem). He will look to get revenge over Raonic for the defeat he suffered when they met in the Brisbane semi-finals in January.
Third seed Stan Wawrinka raced to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Illya Marchenko. The Swiss won 74 per cent of his service points and broke Marchenko three times to prevail in 66 minutes on Stadium 1.

The 30-year-old Wawrinka is already a winner of two ATP World Tour titles this year, lifting the trophies in Chennai (d. Coric) and Dubai (d. Baghdatis).

American wild card Frances Tiafoe almost pulled off the biggest win of his young career against 15^th seed David Goffin. The 18 year old, part of the ATP’s #NextGen campaign, held two match points in the 10^th game of the third set, but ultimately fell 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(2) in two hours and 14 minutes.
Marin Cilic ended the hopes of another young American, beating qualifier Ryan Harrison 6-4, 6-3. 

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Bouchard Wins Stephens Clash; Muguruza, Wozniacki Fall

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard advanced to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday, while seeded players Garbine Muguruza and Caroline Wozniacki were among those who made exits on Day 4 of play.
The 22-year-old Bouchard met American Sloane Stephens, also 22, for the first time since 2013. In their second-round battle, Bouchard won 63 per cent of first-serve points and broke Stephens six times. She dropped her serve four times in the encounter lasting one hour and 41 minutes.

“We had some great points, really both going at it, and I was just, I think, a bit more aggressive,” said the Montreal native. “I think that made the difference.”

Bouchard, who has reached two finals (Kuala Lumpur, Hobart) so far this season, meets Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky in the third round.

Christina McHale upset No. 4 seed Muguruza to set up a meeting with another seed, No. 26 Samantha Stosur, who edged Belgian Yanina Wickmayer in a third-set tie-break.


In the final match of the day, No. 14 seed Ana Ivanovic outlasted a hard-hitting Camila Giorgi 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(5), saving two match points while serving to stay in the contest in the 10th game of the deciding set. The 2008 champion will meet Karolina Pliskova next.

Victoria Azarenka defeated Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-2 to set up a meeting with Australian Open quarterfinalist Shuai Zhang, a 4-6, 7-6(8), 7-5 winner over 20th seed Caroline Wozniacki, champion here in 2011.

“I'm glad that I was able to go through this match,” said Azarenka, the 2012 champion, who picked up her 18th career title in Brisbane at the start of the season.

Two other seeded players advanced: No. 17 Elina Svitolina, a winner in three sets over Annika Beck, and No. 18 Karolina Pliskova, who ended the run of wild card Shelby Rogers 6-2 6-4.

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Berdych Beats Del Potro at BNP Paribas Open

Czech tennis player Tomas Berdych advances in second round of ATP BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) 2016. Tonight he defeats argentinian Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets (7-6; 6-2). Next round Berdych will meet winner of Borna Coric vs. Thomaz Belluci

Angelique Kerber Crashes out of BNP Paribas Open

Angelique Kerber, who lifted her maiden Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open earlier this year, bowed out in her opener against Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic 7-5, 7-5 at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday.
The German left-hander, who toppled Serena Williams in that Melbourne final, dropped serve twice as many times as her opponent in today's second-round contest lasting one hour and 38 minutes.

Serena Williams Past Laura Siegemund at BNP Paribas Open

World number one and top seed Serena Williams cruised past German qualifier Laura Siegemund 6-2, 6-1 to reach the third round at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Williams eased through the match in barely over an hour in her second trip to Indian Wells in the past fifteen years. Serena and her sister Venus both played today, the first time the two sisters have played in the California desert since Serena returned in 2015 after the infamous 2001 final against Kim Clijsters, where Serena and her family endured tumultuous taunting and racial slurs.

ATP Indian Wells: Mannarino Defeats Rosol in Three Sets

Adrian Mannarino needed three sets to beat Lukas Rosol, as he booked his spot in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open.

Lukas Rosol and Adrian Mannarino faced off in the first round at the 2016 BNP Paribas Open for the third time in their career. Both players shared one win each coming into this match. But this time, it was Mannarino came through 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in just over two hours. 

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Pospisil, Zverev Win Tight Openers

In a match lasting almost three hours, Vasek Pospisil finally advanced to the second round of the BNP Paribas Open on Friday, edging Next Generation American star Jared Donaldson 7-6(5), 6-7(2), 6-3.
The Canadian, who won the doubles title in Indian Wells last year with Jack Sock, set a clash with 16^th seed Gilles Simon. Pospisil is looking for a return to form on the singles court, after coming into Indian Wells with a 2-7 match record in 2016. Last year, the 25 year old reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final at Wimbledon (l. to Murray).
“I’m happy with the way I played and the way I fought,” said Pospisil. “The conditions were tough here. They’re polar opposite from what I played last week, so it’s a little bit of an adjustment, but he played a good match and he surprised me a little bit. He was playing well, and I had to play some great tennis to win today.”
German teenager Alexander Zverev marked his first main draw appearance in Indian Wells with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Ivan Dodig in two hours and 19 minutes. The 18 year old, who is part of the ATP’s #NextGen campaign, goes on to face Grigor Dimitrov in an intriguing second-round match. Zverev has made a strong start to the season, highlighted by reaching the semi-finals in Montpellier (l. to Mathieu).
“I have been working hard in the off-season,” said Zverev. “I had a two-month off-season with a lot of physical work and a lot of tennis work. I feel like it's paying off now. I'm just happy the way I'm playing. I'm happy to go as deep as I am in big tournaments.”

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Venus Williams out of BNP Paribas Open

Venus Williams said she had a hard time finding her game face Friday in her return to the BNP Paribas Open after a 15-year absence.

While the result wasn’t to her liking - a 6-4, 6-3 loss to Japanese qualifier Kumura Nara in the second round - Williams was giggling and smiling widely throughout her post-match press conference. She said her disposition wasn’t much different from the moment she walked onto the court.

“It just shows that you can always come back home,” said Williams, the California native. “It was wonderful to feel the love. I would love to come on back.

“It's been a wonderful moment. Fifteen years later, to have such a joyous return, is more than I could have ever asked for. It's such a blessing.”

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Jankovic and Kvitova Win at BNP Paribas Open

Former world no. 1, serbian tennis female player Jelena Jankovic and czech Petra Kvitova advance in Carina Witthoeft with 2-0 in sets (6-1; 6-3), while Kvitova beats Danka Kovinic in three sets (6-3; 4-6; 7-6). Next round Jankovic will meet Coco Vandeweghe, while Petra Kvitova will face winner of Sabine Lisicki vs. Johanna Larsson
second round of BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) 2016. Serbian ease past

ATP Indian Wells: Nicolas Mahut Defeats Renzo Olivo

Nico Mahut defeated Renzo Olivo in straight sets to book his place in the second round.

Nicolas Mahut of France started his BNP Paribas Open campaign against Renzo Olivo, who was making his first appearance here in the desert. Nico Mahut didn't have any problems as he dispatched the Argentine 6-2, 6-4. 

Source: vavel.com

Del Potro Reflects After Indian Wells Win

Juan Martin del Potro reflects on beating Tim Smyczek on Thursday at the BNP Paribas Open.

Source: ATP World Tour

Del Potro Sets Berdych Clash; Coric Advances

In just the second tournament of his comeback, Juan Martin del Potro enjoyed an emphatic 6-4, 6-0 victory over American qualifier Tim Smyczek on Thursday in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open.

The 27-year-old Argentine recently played his first tournament in almost a year when he reached the semi-finals in Delray Beach (l. to Querrey). The right-hander is on the comeback from wrist surgeries and looking for a return to top form at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where he finished runner-up on his last appearance in 2013 (l. to Nadal).

Del Potro dismissed Smyczek in just 69 minutes, winning 75 per cent of his service points and breaking serve four times. The Tandil native sets a blockbuster second-round clash with sixth seed Tomas Berdych.
#NextGen star Borna Coric made a strong start to his BNP Paribas Open campaign, defeating Lucas Pouille 6-2, 7-5.
Kyle Edmund almost became the second #NextGen player to advance. The Briton served for the match at 5-3 in the third set, but ultimately fell 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-5 to Guido Pella. Korea’s Hyeon Chung, 19, also lost in three sets, falling 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 to Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

American qualifier Ryan Harrison advanced with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over Dusan Lajovic. The 23-year-old Harrison, who announced his engagement this week, goes on to face 10^th seed Marin Cilic, whom he beat for the first time last month in Acapulco.

Rajeev Ram won an all-American contest with Noah Rubin, beating the 20 year old 7-6(3), 7-6(2) in just under two hours.
Leonardo Mayer advanced to a second-round clash with 20^th seed Viktor Troicki as he defeated Sam Groth 6-4, 6-3, limiting the big-serving Australian to just five aces.
Milos Raonic will open his campaign against Inigo Cervantes, who won an all-Spanish clash with Nicolas Almagro 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in just under two hours. Second seed Andy Murray and 13^th seed Gael Monfils will also face Spaniards in their opening matches after Marcel Granollers defeated Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-0 and Pablo Carreno Busta beat Evgeny Donskoy 6-3, 6-4.
Third seed Stan Wawrinka will face Illya Marchenko in his opening second-round match after the Ukrainian converted three of his 11 break points to edge Dmitry Tursunov 7-5, 7-6(6) in just over two hours.
Meanwhile Federico Delbonis set a clash with Joao Sousa after beating Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 7-6(5).
Later on day one of the men’s action, 2013 runner-up Juan Martin del Potro takes to Stadium 1 to face American qualifier Tim Smyczek.

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Bouchard Defeats Ozaki at BNP Paribas Open

It was a tough opening match for the Canadian who won in three sets after dropping the first one.

Eugenie Bouchard would take on the qualifier Risa Ozaki in her opening match in Indian Wells. This would be the first meeting between both players and it was clear that Ozaki was not nervous about this match as she went to win the first set, but Bouchard showed her fighting spirit and came back to win in three.

Both players held their first serve games to love, but that good start from the Canadian didn’t last too long after she was broken in the fourth game of the set. Bouchard was serving and was up 40-0, but then went to commit five straight unforced errors handing the first break to the Japanese. After winning her second game, Bouchard started to play better and even had a break opportunity that she threw away with two unforced errors.
The Japanese was one game away from taking the first set and she didn’t hesitate to take it on Bouchard’s serve. The Canadian started getting frustrated as she had to save three set points to stay in the set, she saved two of them, but Bouchard’s seventeenth unforced error gave the opening set to Ozaki. 
Before the second set started, Bouchard received some advice from her coach, Thomas Hogstedt. “I don’t know what’s going on,” she said to her coach as what it seemed to be a summary of her performance in the first set. The attitude of the Canadian didn’t seem to be in the best place after speaking to her coach, but she proved to be listening to him as she went on to break in the first game. She was hitting powerful shots, staying behind the baseline and forcing her opponent to run, but especially taking every chance to come to the net and finish the point. Both players held their following serves before exchanging breaks in six games.
It was Ozaki who showed she was hanging tough, breaking Bouchard’s serve after a long game where the Canadian had several opportunities to avoid the break and keep the lead. In the next game, Bouchard punished Ozaki’s slow first serve with a winner return. She only needed one break point to be back on serve and try to win that advantage back. Just like in the last service game, the Canadian had a chance to have a lead but threw it away after handing the break back to the Japanese.
The next two games were also breaks, and it was on Ozaki’s racquet to hold her serve for the first time five games and have a chance to break Bouchard to win the match. However, the Canadian fought to win the break and serve for the set. Bouchard began her service game with an ace and after a few rallies where she played an aggressive tennis she closed the set with her second ace.
Both players held their first serves rather easily just like in the first set, but this time was Bouchard who took the early advantage after hitting a beautiful drop shot followed by a passing shot to win the break. Then the Canadian had to hold a tough game, but she was playing now her best tennis in all the match and not only held her serve, but she went on to break for the second time. Bouchard would hold to be one game away from the second round. Ozaki would hold again in an attempt to come back to the match, but Bouchard was too solid while she served for the match. A long ball by the Japanese handed the win to Eugenie Bouchard who won 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours.
The Canadian started the match with 17 unforced errors in the first set and finished the match with 47 that were compensated with 31 winners. She did two double faults and hit five aces, winning the 61 percent of her first serve. Bouchard also increased her points won at the net where she got eleven out of twenty.
The recent winner in Acapulco will be Bouchard’s next opponent in the second round of the tournament. They have met three times and the American leads their head-to-head 2-1. Their last meeting was in 2013 in Beijing where Stephens won in three sets.

Source: vavel.com

Sharapova Posts Letter Thanking Fans for Support

Maria Sharapova wrote a letter to her fans thanking them for their "support and loyalty" and "wonderful words" as she deals with the fallout from her positive drug test.
"I woke up yesterday morning with an inbox, in full capacity of love and compassion," Sharapova said to open the letter, which was posted on her personal website.
Her letter went on to explain that while she typically loves mornings, "it is fair to say that this day was not average. Nothing came to mind at 6am except that I am determined to play tennis again and I hope I will have the chance to do so. I wish I didn't have to go through this, but I do - and I will."
Sharapova, 28, announced at a Monday news conference in Los Angeles that she had failed a doping test at the Australian Open in January for meldonium, which became a banned substance under the World Anti-Doping Agency code this year. Meldonium is a blood-flow-promoting heart medicine that was banned because it helps oxygen uptake and endurance.
Sharapova said she had taken meldonium for a decade following various health problems, including regular sicknesses, early signs of diabetes and "irregular" results from echocardiography exams.
Fellow WTA Tour member Agnieszka Radwanska called it a mistake, but said she could understand how it happened.
"I'm scared because I know every pill can have something [prohibited] in it," Radwanska said Wednesday during a player roundtable at Indian Wells. "So when I'm sick I'm just taking aspirin because I'm always afraid there's going to be something else in it [medication]."
"It is difficult to imagine that something like this can happen, but mistakes are there and everyone can make mistakes," Rafael Nadal said. "I want to believe for sure it was a mistake for Maria, that she didn't want to do it, but it is a result of negligence. But the rules are like this, and it's fair, and now she must pay for it."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russia's Ren TV on Thursday that the drug never should have been banned.
Lavrov said it was "a very strange decision, according to expert opinion", echoing comments made by the drug's inventor.
"In recent days there has been no limit at all to comments from specialists, including the inventor of this substance,'' Lavrov said. "They clearly and professionally explain that it isn't doping at all but a normal method for supporting the body and its basic functions.''
Lawyer Howard Jacobs told ESPN on Thursday that he has agreed to work with Sharapova.
"Because Maria has courageously stepped forward, our work will focus on the circumstances that led her to take this drug," Jacobs told ESPN. "Most cases wind up being about inadvertent positives, and this definitely fits that category."
Jacobs also said Sharapova's position is she received the same form letter over the past 10 years, informing her that a new banned drugs list was available but not personalizing it in any way or telling her she should be aware of changes.
"If you get the same email for 10 years, you're going to stop checking it," Jacobs said.
In the aftermath of her announcement, three of Sharapova's major sponsors have backed off deals with her: sportswear giant Nike, Swiss watch brand Tag Heuer and German luxury car company Porsche.
In her letter, Sharapova mentioned being followed by paparazzi and not going online much, "except the odd search for a new antique coffee table." She said her friends made a collage of all the "beautiful messages" from fans, along with their hashtags #IStandWithMaria and #LetMariaPlay.
"In this moment, I am so proud to call you my fans," her letter said. "Within hours of my announcement, you showed me support and loyalty, which I could only expect to hear when someone would be at the top of their profession."
Sharapova, who has been provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation until the investigation is finalized, concluded her letter by saying she would "like to play again and [hopes] to have the chance to do so."
"The good thing is she has acknowledged what happened, and she's facing it," Garbine Muguruza said Wednesday. "I guess that's a good thing she is doing, and we'll see how it goes."
A five-time Grand Slam winner, Sharapova is currently the No. 7-ranked player in the world.

Source: ESPN

Tiafoe Beats Fritz in #NextGen Battle

Taylor Fritz has been one of the hottest #NextGen players on the ATP World Tour in 2016 and came into his first-round match at the BNP Paribas Open with more acclaim after a huge jump in the rankings.
But fellow 18-year-old Frances Tiafoe still has Fritz’s number.
In the first match-up between America’s most promising 18 year olds, Tiafoe used an efficient service game in the first and third set to beat his good friend 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 on Thursday afternoon in the first ATP match between the two.
The loss was a bitter disappointment for Fritz, who had rocketed up 97 spots in the rankings to enter this week at No. 80. Fritz also reached his first ATP World Tour final last month in Memphis, so he thought he had momentum to finally beat Tiafoe. 
But Fritz said he felt some pressure from the success he’s had and coming into the match as a favorite.
“Usually I handle pressure really well, but I definitely wanted to beat him badly because I never beat him in the juniors,” Fritz said. “It’s been a while and I’ve been doing so well and I thought this was my time to take it. Like I said, I didn’t play at the level I usually would play.”
While Fritz has been soaring in the rankings, Tiafoe said he wasn’t jealous. On the contrary, Tiafoe was inspired.
 “I think it’s great, him doing well,” Tiafoe said of Fritz. “If he can do it, why can’t I do it?”
One thing Tiafoe has been working on most is his serve. He said it’s been a focus of his for the past year-and-a-half. Fritz said he’s seen big improvements in the serve the past six months.
“If you don’t have a serve in men’s tennis, you might has well hang it up,” Tiafoe said. “The way the game is going, you need to have a big serve and a big forehand after.
“I feel pretty comfortable with it and now it’s a weapon.”
 Tiafoe didn’t allow Fritz to have a break point opportunity in the first set, and for most of the third.
While serving for the match, Tiafoe found himself down 30/40, but saved break point when he hit a service winner. He followed that up with an ace, and then a forehand cross court to win the match.
For the match, Tiafoe got in 73 per cent of his first serves, including 93 per cent in the first set.
“First serves are huge against Taylor,” Tiafoe said. “His second serve returns are as good as it gets. He nails it. Even if he misses it, you don’t know where it will go. My goal was to hit as many first serves as possible, keep him moving and keep him away from the middle of the court where he’s most effective.”
Tiafoe won the Easter Bowl at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in 2014, but Thursday was the first time he got to play in the main stadium with a seating capacity of 16,100. It is the second largest tennis stadium in the world behind Arthur Ashe at the US Open.
“Winning a match in Indian Wells is huge,” Tiafoe said. “It’s a dream to play on this court, there’s so many great matches played on that court. To play a friend early, as two wild cards, it was unbelievable.”
Another thing Tiafoe got to do this week was hit against 2013 finalist and 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, who had been an idol for Tiafoe.
For a guy who also plays with a big serve and forehand, Tiafoe said del Potro is the prototype of how he wants to play.
“He’s a really nice guy and I always loved watching him play,” Tiafoe said. “He was also the first guy to sign a ball for me as a little kid, so obviously I’ll love him forever.”

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Rafael Nadal Insists He is Clean From Drugs

Rafael Nadal has spoken out today against the allegations made against him in the light of Maria Sharapova's admission that she failed a drugs test. Nadal also said that although Sharapova's situation is unfortunate, she must pay for her mistake.
“I really don’t know anything about the doping and I am a completely clean guy. I worked so much during my whole career and when I get injured, I get injured. I never take anything to get back quicker. I believe in the sport and in the values of the sport," said Nadal.
“The good news about all of this is that we have a good anti-doping programme that the players who are not doing the right thing are going on trial. So we will see how it goes.”

Source: vavel.com

Nadal Looking to Reverse Fortunes in Indian Wells

Rafael Nadal’s start to the season didn’t go as expected and the Spaniard is the first to acknowledge it.
Upset losses to Fernando Verdasco in Melbourne, Dominic Thiem in Buenos Aires, and Pablo Cuevas in Rio de Janeiro – after dropping the final in Doha against Novak Djokovic – forced him to arrive to the BNP Paribas Open without a title in 2016. As such, the Manacor native is searching for a way to get back on the right path before he heads into the clay season.
“I am practicing hard and I’m happy to be here with time,” he said. “I’m doing the right things.”
Nadal knows that the pressure is on, but that pressure also comes with a good opportunity to boost his ATP World Tour ranking points. The three-time champion lost to Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals a year ago, and a deep run into the championship weekend, could help buoy his confidence.
“I lost three matches at the beginning of the season that I could have won and probably should have won,” he said. “I have to keep working hard. I feel ready to keep going mentally and physically too. I’m excited to be here at Indian Wells, a tournament that I really love so much and I’m enjoying these days before the competition starts.”
Despite his less than spectacular record, by his standards, Nadal claims he feels a lot more at ease than he did 12 months ago.
“I’m much better than last year in terms of personal feelings,” he said. “Last year I was so nervous when I was competing and this year is a different story. I lost, yes, a few matches that I think I could win. But I was prepared, and I don’t have those very negative feelings in terms of being without control of my breathing, or being too nervous.”
The fourth-seeded Nadal will play the winner of the first-round clash between Victor Estrella Burgos and Gilles Muller.

Source: BNP Paribas Open

Watson, King, Notch Wins on Day 1

Wild card Heather Watson survived a tough test against Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan on Wednesday in first-round action at the BNP Paribas Open.
The World No. 53, who last week lifted the trophy in Monterrey (d. Flipkens), secured the 7-6(4) 4-6 6-1 win in two hours and 30 minutes on Stadium Court.

Another Kazakh fared better on this first day of main draw action: Yulia Putintseva dismissed Peng Shuai of China 6-0 6-1 in 55 minutes. She will face No. 27 seed Kristina Mladenovic for a place in the third round.

Later in the afternoon, Americans Vania King and Taylor Townsend dueled, with the more experienced King defeating the qualifier Townsend 6-2, 6-3 in 79 minutes.

"I played really well," said King after the match. "I tried to stick to my game plan as much as I could. [Taylor] is a very talented player so I just tried to be aggressive and play my game."

King, a native of Monterey Park, Calif., next plays defending champion Simona Halep.

“I’ve never played against her, but I’m really excited because every match I play at this level will help me get to where I want to be," said King about her Romanian opponent.

Townsend, meanwhile, leaves the tournament with her head held high, having won eight matches in a row before today's contest. Townsend had to win six matches in the BNP Paribas Open pre-qualifying tournament last week, and won two matches in qualifying to earn her main draw spot.

"I'm so happy that I got to play the pre-qualies," said Townsend. "and I'm glad that the tournament has that available for people to play. It really helped me because I felt really match-ready heading into the main draw."

CoCo Vandeweghe celebrated with her home crowd after winning 6-4 6-4 against qualifier Kiki Bertens of The Netherlands. Vandeweghe, who lives in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., will face 16th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round. Kuznetsova is a two-time BNP Paribas Open runner-up, having reached finals in 2007 and 2008.

The day's other winners include Johanna Larsson (d. Maria), Katerina Bondarenko (d. Van Uytvanck), Kurumi Nara (d. Pereira), Carina Witthoeft (d. Falconi), Lucie Hradecka (d. Riske), and Lesia Tsurenko (d. Babos).


Source: BNP Paribas Open

WTA BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) Draw

WTA BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) Draw





Source: WTA Tennis

ATP BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) Draw

ATP BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) Draw





Source: ATP World Tour

Gael Monfils Defeats Stan Wawrinka in Exhibition

Gael Monfils defeats Stan Wawrinka 7-6(6), 6-3 at the BNP Paribas Showdown in Madison Square Garden.

In honor of International Tennis Day, New York City hosted the BNP Paribas Showdown. Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils, Serena Williams, and Caroline Wozniacki were in action in the one-night grand, tennis exhibition. Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils kicked off the spectacular night in an entertaining match-up. With a fully packed Madison Square Garden, the crowd was deemed to play a role in the match considering Monfils is an experienced entertainer on the tennis court.

Source: vavel.com

Serena Williams Fights Past Caroline Wozniacki at Madison Square Garden

World number one and 21-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams fended off the challenge of good friend Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-4 to register her third career Madison Square Garden victory at the BNP Paribas Showdown in New York. Wozniacki was playing her second career match at the World's Most Famous Arena, while Williams was playing her third. 

Source: vavel.com

Wozniacki Discusses Sharapova's Failed Drug Test

After the shock news of Maria Sharapova's failed drug test rocked the tennis world yesterday, Caroline Wozniacki was asked about the failed test by the Russian.
"I think any time we take any medication, we double- and triple- and quadruple-check, because sometimes even things like cough drops and nasal sprays can be on the [banned] list," Wozniacki said Tuesday at a press conference ahead of her Madison Square Garden match with Serena Williams. "As athletes we really always make sure there's nothing in it that is prohibited." 

Rafael Nadal Switching Back to Old Strings

Over the offseason, Rafael Nadal changed strings. His results have now led the fourteen-time major champion to regret the decision and change back to his old strings.

Rafael Nadal’s string experiment has officially failed. The former wold number one has been using different strings on his racquet in 2016, with the intention of hitting with more top spin. However, Nadal’s results have been disastrous so far this season, so the Spaniard has abandoned the new strings and returned to familiar territory.

Gamble Gone Wrong

Over the last few years, Nadal’s level of play has steadily trailed off. He has struggled to keep up with the evolving game, getting left behind by players who are hitting the ball harder and more consistently. In an attempt to catch up, Nadal swapped to strings that were meant to give him more top spin on his strokes, the tactic that he used to use to dominate all challengers.

However, the experiment has failed mightily. Nadal seemed to be on the way back to the top last fall, when he finished 2015 playing some of his best tennis in years. Despite his good form, the world number five was not satisfied and began tinkering with his strings over the offseason.
After a strong start to the season, reaching the final in Doha, his results have been nothing short of disappointing. He lost in the first round of the Australian Open, and followed it up by back-to-back semifinal losses at clay court events in South America to lower-ranked opponents.

Back to Basics

Nadal will return to the strings that he has used on his racquet in the past. His ability to strike his ferocious forehand with unmatched top spin was clearly better with the old strings. He will be hoping that the return to the old strings will allow him to find the consistency that has been lacking for nearly two years.

During his cold streak in 2016, Nadal’s shots have lacked their usual bite which he had with the old strings. There was also a lack of consistency in his ground strokes, often missing routine shots. Nadal will need to refind his consistency and ability to hit with his trademark top spin if he hopes to contend for majors again. He will return to action this week in Indian Wells. 

Source: vavel.com