Skip to content
BNP Paribas Open
  • Tickets & Packages
  • Tennis Paradise Experience
  • News
Get tickets

Indian Wells, California

March 6 - 19, 2023

Get tickets
  • The Tennis Paradise Experience
  • Tickets & Packages Toggle
    • Series Packages
    • Mini Packages
    • Travel Packages
    • Group Packages
    • Luxury Suites
    • My Tickets Account
  • News
  • Tournament Toggle
    • Competition Schedule
    • 2022 Results
    • 2022 Players
    • Venue ↗
    • History
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Health and Safety Protocols
  • Get Involved Toggle
    • Volunteers
    • Ball Crew
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Partnerships Toggle
    • Partners
    • Partnership Opportunities
  • Shop ↗
  • Contact
BNP Paribas Open Insider News
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
WTA

Thursday Preview
Venus Williams vs. Angelique Kerber [8]

Saturday, March 9, 2019 - Venus Williams plays Petra Kvitova in the 2nd round of the BNP Paribas Open in Stadium 1 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (Jared Wickerham/BNP Paribas Open)

by Jeff Donaldson
03/13/2019

Venus, Kerber set for titanic BNP Paribas Open clash

It’s been somewhat of a revival tournament for Venus Williams.

Prior to her run to the quarterfinal here in the southern California desert, she was a mere 4-2 on the season, falling in both of her January tournaments (Auckland and the Australian Open) after only two wins. With her tournament schedule limited, the ubiquitous American – a former World No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion – finds herself at No. 36 in the WTA rankings with semifinal points to defend from last year.

So what does Williams do?

She comes out of the gates blazing at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, overcoming a tricky first-round against Andrea Petkovic, before fashioning a brilliant upset of No. 3 seed Petra Kvitova courtesy of some vintage Venus form. Straight-sets wins over Christina McHale and Mona Barthel showed that the Kvitova victory wasn’t just a flash in the pan and that the 38-year-old is as much a title threat this week as she is a legend.

Saturday, March 9, 2019 – Venus Williams plays Petra Kvitova in the 2nd round of the BNP Paribas Open in Stadium 1 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (Jared Wickerham/BNP Paribas Open)

“I was pretty determined this year,” admitted Williams about her lack of recent match play. “I haven’t played that much, so I wanted to make it count.

“It’s not going to get any easier from here, so I just have to continue to raise my game.”

A combined 🔟 Grand Slam titles.

One hour until @AngeliqueKerber vs. @Venuseswilliams kicks off. And that's just part 1. #BNPPO19 pic.twitter.com/IF1K6WA5Fo

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 14, 2019

Standing in the way of her and a second-consecutive semifinal at the BNP Paribas Open is a player of similar pedigree – Slam champion and formerly top-ranked – yet of significantly less recognition. That’s all to say, Venus won’t be underestimating her – No. 8 seed Angelique Kerber is as tricky as it gets for power players.

Just ask Aryna Sabalenka, Kerber’s fourth-round opponent. The Belarusian was in the driver’s seat, racing towards victory before the German’s awe-inspiring court coverage and signature lefty passing shots snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Thriving off the pace of the game’s ball bruisers, Kerber’s counterpunching has helped her reach her third quarterfinal in the desert.

Tuesday, March 12, 2019 – Angelique Kerber reacts to winning her 4th round match at the BNP Paribas Open in Stadium 1 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. (Kathryn Riley/BNP Paribas Open)

“I don’t think you can prepare for these conditions and for these courts,” said Kerber after her third-round victory. “I think here it’s always special to play, because also of the weather conditions and the courts are slow and you have to go for it.

“It’s more that you try to improve every single day when you are here and [be] confident about your game plan.”

With both players looking confident coming into their highly-anticipated quarterfinal, it will all boil down to just that: game plan. The head-to-head is a relatively even 5-3 in favor of Kerber, but Venus has looked as solid as ever.

Who will come out on top?

V. Williams vs. Kerber
Thursday Evening in Tennis Paradise
Buy tickets
Angelique KerberVenus Williams
  • Share it with facebook
  • Share it with twitter
  • Share it with email
Popular news
  • 03/23/2022 Video: The Story of the 2022 BNP Paribas Open
  • 03/20/2022 22 for ’22: Tennis Paradise Takeaways
  • 03/20/2022 Fritz Snaps 21-Year American Drought, Wins 2022 Men’s Singles Title
  • 03/20/2022 Tennis Paradise 2022 in Photos
  • 06/01/2022 Tennis Paradise Standouts Headline Final Week of French Open Action
Recent news
  • 06/01/2022 Tennis Paradise Standouts Headline Final Week of French Open Action
  • 03/24/2022 Video: Taylor Fritz – Sunday, March 20, 2022
  • 03/23/2022 Video: The Story of the 2022 BNP Paribas Open
  • 03/21/2022 Elena Rybakina – Monday, March 14, 2022
  • 03/20/2022 Video: Rafael Nadal – Sunday, March 20, 2022
Related articles
Daria Kasatkina after win

Daria Kasatkina Wins Instant Classic Over Venus Williams, Into Final

Two hours and 50 minutes after it begun, 20-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina ended an instant classic against home hope Venus […]

Read more

Angelique Kerber Halts Belinda Bencic’s run; Meets Andreescu in Final

The 3-time Grand Slam Champion puts on a masterful performance In Friday’s final match of the day, 3-time Grand Slam […]

Read more

18 for ‘18: Talking Points for the #BNPPO18

1. Lookin’ out for No. 1: Halep? Wozniacki? Muguruza? Pliskova? Kerber? Can anyone grab hold of the WTA Tour’s No. […]

Read more

Post navigation

PreviousBianca Andreescu Continues Magical Desert Run into the Semis
NextRafael Nadal and Roger Federer Advance Amongst Host of ATP Action
  • bnp logo
  • penn logo
  • fila logo
  • IW logo
  • emirates logo
  • Media
  • Contact
  • Partnerships
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • California Privacy Rights
© 2022 BNP Paribas Open a Desert Champions LLC Event
Close
Get the latest updates
Get the latest updates from Tennis Paradise
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Subscribe