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"Kvitarenka" Impresses as U.S. Women March On at Indian Wells


By Erik Gudris Photo Credit: Tony Chang

(March 9th, 2012) The second day of opening round action at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells saw more U.S. women find success on home soil while two of the biggest stars in the WTA made their debut as a potent doubles team.

In the opening match on of the day, wildcard Irina Falconi of Georgia dropped the first set against Romania's Alexandra Dulgheru but then climbed to a 5-2 lead in the second before Dulgheru retired with a right knee injury.

"It's a shame she had to retire," said Falconi later. "During the match I didn't want to think about it at all though. I wanted to maintain my composure and not really give anything away, and not think I'd have it easy. It's too bad she wasn't able to continue."

Injury was a factor in several matches including the one between Gisela Dulko and Jelena Dokic, after Dokic retired with a right wrist injury after losing the very first game, and between Johanna Larsson against Greta Arn after the Hungarian Arn retired down 1-4 in the first set with a neck problem.

Falconi's victory was one of several for U.S. women on the day with fellow Americans Varvara Lepchenko defeating Alexandra Panova 7-6, 6-2 while Lauren Davis earned her first ever WTA main tour win with a 6-2, 7-6 defeat of Petra Martic. But Bethanie Mattek-Sands was unable to share in the success as she fell 6-2, 6-3 to Australian Open quarterfinalist Ekaterina Makarova.

On the doubles side, the highlight of the day belonged to the superstar pairing of current World No.1 Victoria Azarenka with Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in their first ever match as a doubles team. Taking on the team of Natalie Grandin and Vladimira Uhilova, Azarenka and Kvitova used their powerful games to cruise to a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 victory in just under an hour. After the match, Azarenka led the crowd on hand in singing 'Happy Birthday' to Kvitova who turned 22.

The doubles pair will now turn their attention to singles tomorrow as Azarenka meets American Jaime Hampton while Kvitova gets a rematch against fellow Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova who upset Kvitova in the same round at Indian Wells last year.

 

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