Today’s Women’s News (3/12) – Indian Wells

Written by: Staff on 12th March 2013

Today's Women's News (3/12) - Indian Wells

epa03617086 Angelique Kerber of Germany hits a return against Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania during their match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 09 March 2013. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Indian Wells

German fourth seed Angelique Kerber, a 2012 semi-finalist, fought past Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) to advanced into the third round, with the winner needing a visit from her coach while trailing 4-1 in the second set to help her regain focus.

“He just came out and reminded me of the game plan, He told me to focus on my game, play point-by-point and believe in my game, It helped me, actually.” Kerber is back on court after trying to come back last month in the Gulf from a back problem in what she says was a week too early.

“Before the tournament I was not sure about how the back will feel after matches. Now my confidence is back and I feel good. I’m looking forward to playing again.” Kerber next plays Garbine Muguruza of Spain, who beat Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4, 6-0.

Compatriot Julia Goerges lost 6-1, 6-2 to Russian tenth seed Nadia Petrova while former US open winner Samantha Stosur, seeded seventh, beat China’s Peng Shuai 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Eighth seed and former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki seems to have regrouped, with the Dane controlling Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-1. “It just took me a couple of games to get into the match, I felt the court was slower than the outside courts,” said Wozniacki. “I mis-timed it a little bit in the beginning. I hit the ball, but then it stopped on me and I was reaching for it. But then once I got into it, I played some good tennis. I was really comfortable out there.

Ana Ivanovic on Monday became the latest big-name casualty at Indian Wells, suffering a three-set loss to rising star Mona Barthel. Ivanovic, the #11 seed, suffered through a horrid first set, and called out coach Nigel Sears during the changeover. She told him that she felt like she couldn’t move. His pep talk got her going enough to win the second set, but the second wind failed in the third. Barthel took the match 6-1 3-6 6-0.

Ivanovic, a semifinalist last year, will be falling out of the Top Fifteen. Barthel has now clinched a Top 25 ranking.