Indian Wells - Day Four, the conclusion of second round matches for the WTA, and second round commencement for the ATP
BNP Paribas Open - a WTA Premier Mandatory category tournament, on Hard Plexipave, in Indian Wells, California, USA, 4-17 March 2019.
Defending champion:
Naomi Osaka who defeated Dasha Kasatkina (20) 6-3 6-2
WTA second round
- Petra Kvitová (3) v Venus Williams
Kvitová started 2019 in spectacular fashion, winning in Sydney, runner-up in a wonderful Australian Open final, and finalist in the Premier category Dubai tournament. She led the 2019 WTA Race before coming here.
For Venus Williams, a rather mixed year to date, quarter finalist in Auckland and beaten in the third round in the Australian Open. However it did take Simona Halep, world number one at the time, to stop Venus advancing further in Melbourne.
Williams served first, and was untroubled taking a 1-0 lead, despite Kvitová landing two winners from her backhand. The reply was a Czech love game, complete with strength from both sides.
It was 4-4 before too long, and no break points faced by either player.
Kvitová was wining 86% of points on her first serve.
In the ninth game, Williams began with a double fault, and a poor forehand from the American was a rare unforced error putting her at 15-30. After levelling at 30-30, Williams hit the net twice and was broken.
Kvitová would serve for the opening set.
Venus hit a beautiful backhand winner down the line, and Kvitová responded with a brutal backhand of her own. Down 15-30 after a backhand that flew out of court, Kvitová double faulted, presenting Williams with two break back points. Two big serves put those quickly in the trash can, but a second double fault in the game produced a third break opportunity for Venus.
Again the serve rescued the third seed, and deuce was reached. Set point arrived, and an ace ended a tight set 6-4 in Petra’s favour.
Kvitová began set two with a bang, breaking Williams straight away and holding serve easily, although not landing as many first deliveries as she would like. Two excellent backhand winners from the Czech racquet in game three set up another break chance for Kvitová, and Venus obliged by double faulting. 3-0 and looking good for Petra.
Then the match changed. Williams tightened up her tennis, reducing the unforced errors and committing Kvitová to more difficult shots. A backhand return down the line brought Williams to 30-30 on the Czech serve, and a forehand floated long giving Williams her first break point of the match. Kvitová hit the net and the break arrived. She still lead 3-1 with a break, but Williams was back in the contest, as proven by her holding serve and reducing the lead to 2-3.
Kvitová had break point in the next game after a backhand return winner, saved by Williams with a great volley. A second break point was saved when Kvitová overplayed a backhand. Third chance was blown thanks to a Williams forehand winner. Serve was held and Kvitová led 4-3.
Now with some momentum, Williams proceeded to break Kvitová, then consolidate to actually lead the set 5-4. The Czech second serve was being eaten up by Williams. Serving to stay in the set, Kvitová double faulted at 30-30, handing Williams a set point. A backhand winner saved immediate danger, and two forehands, one an attacking volley drew Kvitová to 5-5.
Williams held, and for the second time Kvitová needed to hold serve to keep the set alive. At 40-15 things appeared on track, but a double fault began a path to destruction for the Czech star. Venus pushed Petra all around the court and a backhand produced an error. Then set point arrived after a Kvitová forehand hit the net. Another error gave the set to Williams 7-5, completing a remarkable turn around.
In the decider, from 3-3 and 30-15, Williams hit two unforced forehand errors, one long, and one into the net, to give Kvitová a break point. A Williams backhand into the net confirmed the break and a 4-3 lead for Petra.
Williams returned a backhand winner on top of a double fault, and when forced into error following a decent forehand return from the American, it was break point faced by the Czech star. A backhand winner saved her, and a forehand winner produced a game point. That vanished as a forehand found the net. Another forehand floated wide, and this time Williams converted the break point to level 4–4.
Consolidating at 5-4 with ease, Williams then put pressure on Kvitová to hold serve and stay in the match. The third seed couldn’t do it, and Venus Williams pulled off an incredible victory 4-6 7-5 6-4
- Anastasija Sevastova (11) defeated wildcard Madison Brengle 6-3 6-4
- Anett Kontaveit (21) defeated Monica Puig 6-3 7-6(4)
- Qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure defeated Donna Vekic (28) 1-6 7-6(5) 6-4
- Naomi Osaka (1) defeated Kiki Mladenovic 6-3 6-4
- Danielle Collins (25) defeated Kirsten Flipkens 6-4 6-1
- Belinda Bencic (23) defeated Alison Van Uytvanck 6-4 6-1
- Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated Caroline Wozniacki (13) 7-5 2-6 7-5
- Karolina Pliskova (5) defeated qualifier Misaki Doi 6-7(4) 6-1 6-1
- Qualifier Christina McHale defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (30) 6-4 3-6 6-4
- Mona Barthel defeated Madison Keys (17) 3-6 6-1 7-5
- Julia Goerges (15) defeated Kaia Kanepi 6-3 2-6 6-3
- Aryna Sabalenka (9) defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3 4-6 6-0
- Lesia Tsurenko (24) defeated wildcard Jessica Pegula 3-6 7-5 6-4
- Qualifier Natalia Vikhlyantseva defeated Carla Suarez Navarro (26) 6-2 6-0
- Angie Kerber (8) defeated Yulia Putintseva 6-0 6-2
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