Indian Wells - WTA 3rd round complete

Indian Wells - Day Six, the conclusion of third round matches for the WTA, and third 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 third round 

• Qualifier Natalia Vikhlyantseva v Angie Kerber (8)

Vikhlyantseva served first and hit two forehand winners.  Unfortunately two double faults interfered, and she faced a break point.  It was saved, but two more double faults helped achieve the service break.

Kerber consolidated the break, holding to 30.

Vikhlyantseva registered on the scoreboard in game three, the big serve a key factor.

Kerber led 30-0 before the tall Russian hit winners off her backhand and  forehand.  A Kerber error presented Vikhlyantseva with break point and she used it by hitting a backhand winner to draw level at 2-2.

Saving a break point in taking the lead 3-2, Vikhlyantseva then set about cracking the German serve again.  An off forehand winner and 30-30.  A forehand down the line and break point.  Saved.  Double fault and another break chance.  A lucky net cord and the break for 4-2.

The pair exchanged service breaks in the next two games, which meant Vikhlyantseva served for the set.

A love game was timely, the final point a Kerber return error, the set to the Russian 6-3.

Kerber survived two break points in game three of set two, and led 2-1.  Then the eighth seed was unstoppable, winning another four straight games to take the set 6-1.

Kerber won 74% of points on her serve for the set, and 59% of points on her opponents delivery.

In the decider, Kerber continued the momentum, breaking twice to lead 5-1.  She had now won 10 of the last 11 games.

Serving at 5-2, Kerber saw four match points disappear on the way to having her serve broken, but she broke Vikhlyantseva the very next game to take the victory 3-6 6-1 6-3.

• Anett Kontaveit (21) defeated Anastasija Sevastova (11) 5-0 (retired)
• Karolina Pliskova (5) defeated qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure 6-3 6-2
• Aryna Sabalenka (9) defeated Lesia Tsurenko (24) 6-2 7-5
• Mona Barthel defeated Julia Goerges (15) 7-5 1-6 6-4
• Venus Williams defeated qualifier Christina McHale 6-2 7-5
• Belinda Bencic (23) defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4 6-2
• Naomi Osaka (1) defeated Danielle Collins (25) 6-4 6-2

Round of sixteen match ups

Naomi Osaka (1) v Belinda Bencic (23)

Anett Kontaveit (21) v Karolina Pliskova (5)

Venus Williams v Mona Barthel 

Aryna Sabalenka (9) v Angie Kerber (8)

Kiki Bertens (7) v Garbiñe Muguruza (20)

Qiang Wang (18) v wildcard Bianca Andreescu 

Elina Svitolina (6) v Ash Barty (12)

Marketa Vondrousova v Simona Halep (2)