TENNIS NEWS – TAYLOR FRITZ EARNS A SPOT IN THE MAIN DRAW OF THE 2018 BNP PARIBAS • INDIAN WELLS • RESULTS • DRAWS • WTA AND ATP • FREE ADMISSION

Written by: Staff on 28th February 2018

TENNIS NEWS - TAYLOR FRITZ EARNS A SPOT IN THE MAIN DRAW OF THE 2018 BNP PARIBAS • INDIAN WELLS • RESULTS • DRAWS • WTA AND ATP • FREE ADMISSION |

(Left to Right) Oracle Challenger Series Ball Kid, Oracle Challenger Series Co-Tournament Director Christian Coleman, Danielle Collins, Taylor Fritz, BNP Paribas Open Tournament Director Tommy Haas, Oracle Challenger Series Co-Tournament Director Tom Fey, Oracle Challenger Series Ball Kid.

FRITZ AND COLLINS CLINCH BNP PARIBAS OPEN WILDCARDS

WITH STRONG PERFORMANCES IN ORACLE CHALLENGER SERIES

Anisimova Cruises Past Gibbs to Reach Quarterfinals at Indian Wells Tennis Garden

Americans Taylor Fritz and Danielle Collins, who captured singles titles at the Oracle Challenger Series – Newport Beach in January and won early-round matches at the Oracle Challenger Series – Indian Wells, have officially clinched main draw wildcards to the upcoming BNP Paribas Open, scheduled for March 5-18, 2018 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The 20-year-old Fritz of Palos Verdes, Calif., turned professional in 2015 and was the youngest player to finish in the Top 100 in the ATP World Tour singles rankings in 2016. That same year, he reached a career-high ranking of No. 53 and became the youngest American to reach an ATP final (Memphis) since Michael Chang in 1989. Last month he defeated fellow American Bradley Klahn 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 in Newport Beach, Calif., to win the first event of the inaugural Oracle Challenger Series. Fritz is ranked No. 77 in the world.

“It’s really good to be playing in the main draw of the BNP Paribas Open. It’s close to home, so it’s special in that sense. I’m just happy that I’m in,” Fritz said. “I’m approaching each tournament, trying to go as far as possible in the matches. I picked up the wildcard along the way, so that was really nice. I’m happy to have the opportunity.”

Collins, a former two-time NCAA singles champion at the University of Virginia, won the biggest title of her professional career so far when she defeated Russia’s Sofya Zhuk of Russia 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the women’s singles final of the Oracle Challenger Series in Newport Beach in January.

The 24-year-old from St. Petersburg, Fla., is ranked No. 119 in the WTA singles rankings. Collins was a 2017 recipient of the inaugural Oracle U.S. Tennis Award. She received a $100,000 grant that assists young players as they transition from college into the professional ranks.

“Oracle has really stepped up to the plate starting with college tennis. Making college tennis important has been incredible. It was something that was important to me,” Collins said. “Now, being able to play in Oracle events and having these Challenger Series, it’s just awesome being able to stay in the States. (I’m) very grateful that Oracle has stepped up and is putting on more awesome events.”

The Oracle Challenger Series, which was created to help support U.S. tennis, offered a direct connection to the 2018 BNP Paribas Open, giving four American players an opportunity to participate in the #RoadToIndianWells. The top two male and top two female Americans who finished with the highest accumulated points at the events will receive wildcards in their respective singles main draws at Indian Wells, which is held March 5-18, 2018.

In Wednesday’s tournament action, 16-year-old Amanda Anisimova of Aventura, Fla., advanced to the quarterfinals as she took only 58 minutes to eliminate fellow American Nicole Gibbs 6-4, 6-0.

Fritz continued his stellar play in the men’s draw as the No. 4 seed reached the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over 27-year-old Norbert Gombos of Slovakia. Fritz will meet Dudi Sela of Israel in Friday’s quarterfinals.

On Thursday, Collins will take on top-seeded Magda Linette of Poland in a second-round match on Stadium 4 at 10 a.m. at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

For Thursday’s Order of Play, click here,

For Men’s Singles Main Draw, click here,

For Women’s Singles Main Draw, click here,

For Men’s Doubles Main Draw, click here,

For Women’s Doubles Main Draw, click here,

For Live Scoring, go to: http://oraclechallengerseries.com/

For Live Streaming, go to: http://oraclechallengerseries.com/live-stream/

Play will start each day at 10 a.m. Gates will open at 9 a.m. Admission and on-site parking for spectators at the Oracle Challenger Series – Indian Wells is free. Attendees can enter Gate 2 from Washington Street. Selected concessions will open at 11 a.m. For additional event information, go to: oraclechallengerseries.com.

Oracle Challenger Series Indian Wells

Indian Wells Tennis Garden

Indian Wells, Calif.

Wednesday’s Results

Men’s Singles – Second Round

[4] T. Fritz (USA) d N. Gombos (SVK) 63 64

[8] D. Sela (ISR) d [Alt] R. Ojeda Lara (ESP) 61 16 64

M. Klizan (SVK) d H. Laaksonen (SUI) 63 75

P. Polansky (CAN) d S. Kozlov (USA) 62 64

Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals

L. Broady (GBR) / M. Reid (AUS) d [4] J. Nedunchezhiyan (IND) / P. Raja (IND) 63 64

First Round