Kontaveit goes down to Vondrousova as Indian Wells women’s draw opens further

WTA BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells 2022 | Results | Schedule

Fourth seed Anett Kontaveit, whose 14 match wins in 2022 are the second most on the WTA Tour behind Iga Swiatek’s 16 victories, was knocked out by a familiar opponent in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Monday.

Kontaveit was defeated by 30th seeded Marketa Vondrousova 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(5), her third loss in four career meetings against the Czech left-hander.

The Estonian, who has surged in the rankings over the past nine months after winning five titles in her past 12 tournaments, was looking to translate her recent success on indoor hardcourts to outdoor hardcourts. She led 4-2 in the final set before Vondrousova found a way back to win in two hours and 50 minutes.

The Czech, an Olympic sliver medalist and former French Open finalist, will next meet 21st seeded Veronika Kudermetova for a place in the quarter-finals. Kudermetova, who defeated four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka in a dramatic second-round on Saturday, advanced when her opponent, Marie Bouzkova, retired due to a right ankle injury when Kudermetova was leading 6-4, 0-2.

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With Kontaveit out, Badosa and Sakkari are the favourites in bottom half of women’s draw

Kontaveit’s loss means fifth seed Paula Badosa and sixth seed Maria Sakkari are the only top 10 seeds left in the bottom half of the women’s draw while Swiatek, seeded third, is the only top 10 seed left in the top half.

Badosa, the defending women’s champion at Indian Wells, slugged out a 7-6, 6-1 win over compatriot Sara Sorribes Tormo in just under two hours while Sakkari scored a comprehensive 6-3, 6-0 win over two-time Grand Slam winner Petra Kvitova.

Badosa will meet US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez, who beat American Shelby Rogers 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 while Sakkari will clash against qualifier Daria Saville. The Australian who continued her dream run in Indian Wells with 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 upset win over 20th seeded Elise Mertens, of Belgium.

17th seed Elena Rybakina also advanced into the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-4 win over two-time Indian Wells champion Victoria Azarenka and meets 31st seed Viktorija Glubic, who needed a third set tiebreak to beat Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 1-6, 7-6.

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