INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP)- Nasa tamang lugar si Serena Williams patungo sa BNP Paribas Open, nakagawa ng mabilis, business-like effort, upang umabante sa fourth round kung saan ay nagbalik siya makaraan ang 14 taon na pagkawala.
Dinispatsa niya si Zarina Diyas ng Kazakhstan, 6-2, 6-0, sa 53 minutong laro, ang routine affair na maikukumpara sa emotional roller coaster na kanyang dinaanan noong Sabado matapos na muli siyang masilayan sa stadium court sa unang pagkakataon simula nang lumisan siya na kaakibat ang mga pangangantiyaw noong 2001.
‘’It definitely felt back to normal out there,’’ pahayag ni Williams. ‘’It feels really special. I feel really glad to be here and still be in the tournament.’’
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Nangailangan naman si four-time Indian Wells winner Roger Federer ng karagdagang 10 minuto upang biguin si Diego Schwartzman, 6-4, 6-2, sa men’s second round. Humirit si Federer ng 122-mph ace upang itakda ang match point at nagpakawala ng forehand winner upang tapusin ang laro, nag-iwan sa kanya ng dalawa sa 50 career wins sa disyerto.
‘’I’m moving well, which is key on this surface because the easy shots and easy points are not going to happen so easily here like they maybe do in Dubai or Australia or the indoor season,’’ ayon kay Federer. ‘’I was successful playing on my terms. There are certain things I can do better, but for a first round it’s a good start.’’
Ganoon din ang masasabi ni three-time champion Rafael Nadal, nagwagi via 6-4, 6-2 laban kay Igor Sijsling. Dinominahan ni Nadal ang kanilang baseline rallies sa kanyang opening match para sa two-week tournament.
‘’I moved myself a little bit quicker tonight than what I was doing one month ago,’’ pahayag ni Nadal. ‘’I was able to defend some points well, to have some good passing shots, have some winners, some good shots down the line with my forehand. That always give me a lot of confidence.’’
