Today’s Women’s News (3/11) – Indian Wells

Written by: Staff on 11th March 2013

Today's Women's News (3/11) - Indian Wells

epa03589446 Sorana Cirstea of Romania in action against Sloane Stephens of US during the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 18 February 2013. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

Indian Wells

Late Sunday

The following matches were completed after our previous edition went out.

Singles – Third Round: (3) Agnieszka Radwanska def. (27) Sorana Cirstea 6-7(3-7) 6-3 6-4

Sorana Cirstea gave Agnieszka Radwanska a real scare, but in the end, she stays stuck below the Top 25.

Singles – Third Round: (5) Petra Kvitova def. Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 7-6(7-5)

Sara Errani had earlier taken the lead in the contest for #6, but with this, Petra Kvitova regains the lead. That probably won’t be settled for some days, though.

Singles – Third Round: (9) Marion Bartoli def. Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4 6-3

Svetlana Kuznetsova seems to be great, these days — except when she is in a position to start really climbing. She defends her points, but no more; she will stay around #45. Marion Bartoli is still #11 in safe points, with a chance, but only a chance, to go higher.

Singles – Third Round: Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino def. (14) Roberta Vinci 2-6 6-4 6-4

You’d think the conditions here would be tough for Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino, whose natural surface is after all clay. But she keeps on wearing out our fingers forcing us to type her name…. Roberta Vinci may hit the Top Fifteen despite the loss, but she loses the chance to clinch.

Early Matches:

Singles – Third Round: (2) Maria Sharapova def. (25) Carla Suarez Navarro 7-5 6-3

This was a very tough match for Maria Sharapova — it’s hard to believe she can survive four more like that. Still, she keeps alive her hopes of reaching #2. Whereas Carla Suarez Navarro will have to settle for being a little below the Top Twenty.

Singles – Third Round: (6) Sara Errani def. Johanna Larsson 6-3 6-1

This once again put Sara Errani in the lead in the contest for #6 — for the moment.

Singles – Third Round: (13) Maria Kirilenko def. Mallory Burdette 6-3 4-6 6-2

It’s a good thing Maria Kirilenko gets a day off — this took two and three-quarter hours. And Kirilenko still needs one more win to defend her points. Mallory Burdette will rise to probably a little above #110.

Singles – Third Round: (19) Klara Zakopalova def. (12) Dominika Cibulkova 6-4 7-5

Klara Zakopalova seems to really like this place; it’s the second straight year she has made the fourth round. That may be sufficient to keep her at #22. Dominika Cibulkova will probably be #13 or #14.

Doubles – Second Round: (3) Petrova/Srebotnik def. Jankovic/Lucic-Baroni 6-2 7-6(7-4)

With Errani/Vinci and Hlavackova/Hradecka both out, this should be a big opportunity for Petrova/Srebotnik.

Doubles – Second Round: (4) Makarova/Vesnina def. Goerges/Shvedova 6-2 7-6(7-4)

Makarova/Vesnina is the other team with a chance to benefit this week. Although Elena Vesnina can’t move much; she was last year’s finalist.

Doubles – Second Round: Date-Krumm/Dellacqua def. Raymond/Stosur 6-1 4-6 10-6

It really does seem as if Samantha Stosur forgets how to play doubles every time she steps away from it. And playing a fellow Australian probably didn’t help.