Defending champion:
Karolina Pliskova (5) who defeated wildcard CoCo Vandeweghe 7-6(2) 6-4
Second round results
- Kiki Bertens (6) v Belinda Bencic
Kiki Bertens won the two previous matches between the pair, last year in Wuhan, and 2017 in Indian Wells.
Today Bertens served first and was greeted with a return forehand winner on the first point. Although she was missing with her first serve, Bertens managed to capitalise on errors from Bencic. A drop shot sealed the service hold. Bencic delivered a love game to level at 1-1.
No break points were faced in the first five games, although Bencic was taken to deuce in game four. The sixth game saw Bencic trail 0-40 on serve, after a double fault, and two wide backhands. All three break points were saved, and two more as well, before ultimately Bencic held on for 3–3.
In the ninth game, Bertens had game point, but a double fault and long forehand presented Bencic with her first break point of the match. A backhand from Bertens sailed long and Bencic was ahead 5-4.
Serving for the set, Bencic hit a backhand cross court winner to start. A backhand error from Bertens and two set points arrived. One was saved, but not the second as Bertens was deceived by the bounce on a second serve.
Bencic ahead 6-4.
Service breaks were exchanged in the first two games of set two, and in game six Bencic saved three break points to keep the score on serve. In game eight, and at 30-30, Bencic failed to clear the net with a backhand, and faced another break point. This was converted when Bencic hit the net again with a forehand.
Bertens served out the set 6-3 and a decider was required.
After surviving a break point in game two of the third set, Bertens struck in game five, a Swiss forehand failure bringing up the break point, and a double fault confirming the break. A love game consolidated the break and the Dutch sixth seed nearly broke for 5-2, but Bencic saved that disaster.
At 5-4, serving for the match, Bertens began with an ace, her nineteenth. A forehand winner for 30-0. A twentieth ace and three match points. A backhand into the net from Bencic and the match was over.
Kiki Bertens won with a serving master class 4-6 6-3 6-4. 38 of 43 points won on her first serve. The only thing not done to her liking was conversion of break points. 3 from 13 was unacceptable, and contributed to the dropping of set one. All in all this was a top quality match.
- Naomi Osaka (1) defeated Hsieh Su-Wei 6-4 6-3
- Donna Vekic defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-1 7-5
- Victoria Azarenka defeated Karolina Pliskova (4) 4-6 6-3 6-4
- Anett Kontaveit (8) defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 6-2
- Anastasija Sevastova (7) defeated wildcard Laura Siegemund 6-4 6-3
- Angie Kerber (5) defeated wildcard Andrea Petkovic 6-2 6-4
Quarter final match ups
Naomi Osaka (1) v Donna Vekic
Victoria Azarenka v Anett Kontaveit (8)
Anastasija Sevastova (7) v Petra Kvitová (3)
Kiki Bertens (6) v Angie Kerber (5)
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