Grand Slam champions Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu, and Caroline Wozniacki secured spots in the second round of Indian Wells on March 7. However, former world number one Venus Williams appeared to be on track for victory before suffering a setback, losing the last 10 games to Japan’s Nao Hibino.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, initially trailed 2-1 in the first set against qualifier Sara Errani. However, she quickly found her rhythm and dominated the remainder of the match, winning 10 of the final 11 games to secure a 6-3, 6-1 victory.
“It was really tricky for me in the first set,” she told reporters after the post-match presentation.
“I didn’t know if I should play with her and then go for my shots or if I should immediately go for my shots. That took a little bit of working out, which is why the first set was closer than I would have wanted.”
Osaka set to face Liudmila Samsonova in next round
Osaka, who was granted a wildcard entry to compete in the event where she clinched her first professional title in 2018, will now take on 14th seed Liudmila Samsonova of Russia in the next round.
Raducanu thrashes Rebeka Masarova
Former U.S. Open champion Raducanu defeated Spanish qualifier Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 6-3 earlier in the day, setting up a second-round encounter with 30th seed Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine.
The British wildcard secured six breaks of serve but also committed eight double faults and required four match points to seal the victory, which concluded when Masarova's backhand sailed long.
Raducanu is participating in her fifth tournament since returning to action in January after an eight-month absence due to wrist and ankle surgeries.
Wozniacki seals first win
Meanwhile, Wozniacki, 33, secured her first victory in the California desert since 2019, defeating Zhu Lin 7-6(6), 6-1 in a match that commenced on March 6 but was interrupted by rain.
The Dane made her comeback to the tour last year after taking a break from the sport in 2020 to start a family. The 2011 champion of the tournament and former world number one will face Croatian Donna Vekic, seeded 25th, in the next round.
On the other hand, seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams appeared to be on track for victory, leading 6-2, 3-2 before Hibino staged a comeback for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 triumph.
The 43-year-old American had been inactive since her early exit from last year's U.S. Open, where she was defeated by qualifier Greet Minnen in the first round.
Danielle Collins will take on world number one Iga Swiatek in an eagerly anticipated second-round encounter after the American narrowly overcame Russian qualifier Erika Andreeva 7-6(3), 7-6(6).
Collins fought back from a 5-3 deficit in the first set and saved two set points in the second to secure victory over Andreeva, setting the stage for a showdown with familiar rival Swiatek.
30-year-old Collins declared in January that this season would be her last on the WTA Tour, but emphasised that her trademark competitiveness remains unchanged. “I feel like it’s animal mode from the moment I walk in,” she said.
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