INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Naisalba ni Angelique Kerber ang dikdikang duwelo kontra Pauline Parmentier ng France, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, nitong Lunes (Martes sa Manila) sa BNP Paribas Open at patatagin ang kampanya para sa No.1 world ranking.
Tagaktak ang pawis ng magkaribal nang sumirit ang temperature sa 90s (36 C), halos 20 degree ang taas sa seasonal averaged na 78 (25 C), subalit nagpakatatag si Kerber para makabawi mula sa 1-4 paghahabol sa third set.
“I was starting to believe in myself again,” aniya.
“The conditions are also very tough here. When you play day session, it’s really, really hot. You play night session, it’s a little bit cooler and could be really cold. The balls are flying a little bit different, as well.”
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Anuman ang kahinatnan ng kampny ni Kerber sa torneo, tiyak na ang kanyang pagiging No. 1 rank matapos hindi sumabak si Serena Williams dahil sa injury. Nakuha niya ang No.2 spot sa pagtatapos ng Australian Open nitong Enero.
Nasilat naman si Simona Halep, ang 2015 champion, ni 28th-seeded Kristina Mladenovic ng France 6-3, 6-3.
Magaan naman na ginapi ni Madison Keys si Naomi Osaka, 6-1, 6-4, sa harap ng nagbubunying coach at dating Grand Slam champion na si Lindsay Davenport, habang umusad si Venus Williams kontra Lucie Safarova, 6-4, 6-2.
“That sun is strong,” sambit ni Williams.
“Thankfully, I live in Florida, so I think it prepares you for a lot. I got pretty comfortable pretty fast.”
Nagwagi rin sina No. 13 Caroline Wozniacki, No. 14 Elena Vesnina at American Lauren Davis.
Sa men’s side, pinataob ni No. 3 Stan Wawrinka si 28th-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 6-3, habang naputol ang winning streak ni Vasek Pospisil nang gapiin ni Dusan Lajovic, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-5.
