Badosa Rolls into Round 3, Kudermetova Moves Past Osaka

The BNP Paribas Open women’s singles title has not been defended successfully since the legend Martina Navratilova raised the trophy in 1991. 31 years later, it’s Paula Badosa‘s turn to try.

The Spaniard jumped the first hurdle of her BNP Paribas Open title defense by toppling Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 7-6(4), on Friday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Flipping the script 📚

In their fourth meeting, defending champ @paulabadosa secures a first career win against Martincova 6-2, 7-6(4)#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/mE3s5WUier

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 13, 2022

Badosa is hoping to shake off a rough month in the Middle East, where she lost two of three matches, and a bit of swagger to boot.

“Confidence is very tough to get and very easy to lose it,” she confirmed to reporters after improving her record to 10-4 in 2022.

“To be honest, after Dubai and Doha, I wasn’t happy about that,” the No.5 seed said. “I had tough days after all. For me it’s very important to go match by match. For me, every match gives me confidence again.”

Badosa had to overcome a mental wall to reach the third round on Saturday. She had lost all three of her previous matches against 42nd-ranked Martincova, and never taken a set from the 27-year-old. The world No.7 was quick to point out to reporters that her last loss to Martincova was a year and a half ago. Today, she is a vastly improved player and she says it made the difference.

“I think the difference was I played against her one year and a half ago,” she said. “I think I’ve improved a lot in so many things. Mentally, but physically as well because I think it was a very physical match. I could show the way and how much I improved today after playing against her.”

Badosa will face compatriot Sara Sorribes Tormo for a spot in the round of 16 on Monday in the California desert.

Osaka Falls to Kudermetova 

Veronika Kudermetova played the perfect match, and Naomi Osaka had a difficult night. It all added up to a significant victory for the No.21 seed to wrap up a busy Saturday on Stadium 1. Kudermetova never wavered as she notched a 6-0, 6-4 triumph to set a third-round clash with Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic.

Osaka, the 2018 champion, drops to 12-3 lifetime at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

“It was a really tough match for me,” said Kudermetova. “I am really happy about my performance today, I was so focused.”

Kudermetova played magnificent match, saving all four break points she faced, and remained poised even when Osaka got her feet underneath her and mounted a surge in the second set. The 24-year-old converted the decisive break in the seventh game of a tight second set, and held serve the rest of the way to reach the third round at Indian Wells for the first time.

Sakkari and Kontaveit Advance

Maria Sakkari is up and running at the BNP Paribas Open, and on collision course with two-time quarterfinalist Petra Kvitova. The Greek toppled Katerina Siniakova on Saturday, 6-3, 7-5, to set a seventh career meeting with the two-time Grand Slam champion.

Sakkari improves to 12-4 on the season and will attempt to match her best performance at Indian Wells on Monday against the Czech. She reached the round of 16 in 2018, losing to eventual champion Naomi Osaka.

Maria moves on….@mariasakkari starts her campaign with a 6-3, 7-5 against Siniakova#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/CpwlHg35QJ

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 12, 2022

27th-seeded Kvitova battled past Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4.

Elsewhere, Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit, the No.4 seed, raced past Kristina Kucova, 6-4, 6-1, to set a third-round match with 30th-seeded Marketa Vondrousova.

Paolini Stuns No.2-Seeded Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka‘s 2022 season has been characterized by struggle, the Belarusian sputtering at times, excelling at others, as she seeks the form that led to a breakout 2021 season.

Today on Stadium 2 the struggle took center stage as the No.2 seed was outplayed and ultimately ousted by Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, the world No. 46, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

The triumph was a welcome surprise to the Italian.

Bravo 🇮🇹👏

Jasmine Paolini slugs past No.2 seed Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to score a first Top 🔟 win of her career #IndianWells pic.twitter.com/H572UfT6ni

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 12, 2022

Paolini, a 5’4″ fireplug from Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Italy, continued to fight, making things difficult for Sabalenka. After she claimed the middle set, there was no stopping her.

“I mean, after the first set I didn’t expect to win the match, but I try just to be there every point, to not think about the score,” she said. “The score was 6-2 for her (in the first set). I mean, I wasn’t even close to her. But then point by point I started to believe it.”

Paolini, who will face either Viktorija Golubic or Yulia Putintseva in the third round, credits hard court improvements for her recent run up the rankings. Paolini started 2021 at 95 in the world and has steadily climbed since.

“I was playing pretty well on clay courts, but I had difficulties on hard courts,” the 26-year-old said. “Now I think I believe that I can play also here. So I think that’s the key. More tournaments are on hard courts, I mean, instead of clay courts. I have more chances to do points. That gave me confidence I think during the year, yeah.”

Fernandez Advances as Anisimova Retires 

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez has now pulled Houdini escapes in back-to-back matches. After saving five championship points in the final at Monterrey last week, Fernandez saved four match points to defeat Amanda Anisimova, 2-6, 7-6(0) RET.  The No.18 seed saved a match point while serving at 3-5, 30-40, and another three with Anisimova serving at 5-4, 40-0 before claiming the second-set tiebreak against Amanda Anisimova. After the set, the American was forced to retire due to illness.

Amanda Anisimova is forced to retire. Feel better soon!@leylahfernandez salutes her opponent and advances to the third round#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/d2RDU4QNpm

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 13, 2022

Fernandez moves on to face American Shelby Rogers in a rematch of last year’s third-round battle, won by Rogers in a third-set tiebreak.