Astra Sharma and Daria Saville begin sturdy in qualifying as Australian gamers goal success on the prestigious BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
Indian Wells, USA , 8 March 2022 | Vivienne Christie
Astra Sharma and Daria Saville are off to profitable begins of their bids to achieve foremost draw entry into the distinguished BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, with every claiming wins within the first spherical of qualifying.
Sharma overcame Yuan Yue of China in straight units, whereas Saville superior in opposition to Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia.
World No.96 Sharma, who certified and progressed to the second spherical of final 12 months’s BNP Paribas Open, subsequent faces Viktoriya Tomova.
Saville is on the comeback path from damage, after sitting out a lot of the 2021 season following Achilles surgical procedure In February.
The 28-year-old made vital progress at her first abroad event for the 12 months in Guadalajara; after profitable the longest WTA match for the season in opposition to Emma Raducanu, Saville progressed to the quarterfinals and subsequently rose virtually 200 rankings locations.
Saville, who subsequent faces Poland’s Magdalena Frech in qualifying, is aiming to contest the Indian Wells foremost draw for the fifth time.
It was a more durable day within the Californian desert for fellow Australians Maddison Inglis and Priscilla Hon, with each eradicated within the first spherical of qualifying.
The stage is ready within the desert 🏟️
Ladies’s singles draw 👉 https://t.co/zYAbpj69zy#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/PbZrwHcVhx
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 8, 2022
With 96-player males’s and girls’s foremost attracts, the BNP Paribas Open hard-court event is likely one of the two greatest tour occasions (alongside the Miami Open) exterior the Grand Slams.
In 2020, Indian Wells was one of many first international sporting occasions cancelled as a result of pandemic. The event was contested in an tailored October time slot final 12 months, with Cameron Norrie and Paula Badosa respectively topped males’s and girls’s champions.
With world No.1 Ash Barty asserting her withdrawal from the event final week, Ajla Tomljanovic will spearhead Australia’s marketing campaign within the ladies’s draw.
The world No.39, who upset Garbine Muguruza on her technique to the fourth spherical final 12 months, faces Hailey Baptiste within the first spherical.
Contemporary from his profitable performances in Australia’s Davis Cup qualifier in opposition to Hungary, Alex de Minaur will lead a powerful Australian males’s contingent at Indian Wells.
John Millman, Jordan Thompson, Alexei Popyrin and Thanasi Kokkinakis are additionally anticipated to compete, with Nick Kyrgios awarded a foremost draw wildcard.
Ladies’s foremost draw matches start from Wednesday, with males to kick off on Thursday.
Large recreation, huge smile 😀#IndianWells | @NickKyrgios pic.twitter.com/GhWRzDqnZr
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 8, 2022
Aussies in motion – Indian Wells
RESULTS
Ladies’s qualifying, first spherical
[9] Astra Sharma (AUS) d Yuan Yue (CHN) 6-2 7-5
Daria Saville (AUS) d [15] Kamilla Rakhimova (RUS) 7-5 6-3
[10] Concord Tan (FRA) d Priscilla Hon (AUS) 6-3 6-4
[14] Dalma Galfi (HUN) d Maddison Inglis (AUS) 4-6 6-3 6-3
COMING UP
Ladies’s qualifying, second spherical
[9] Astra Sharma (AUS) v [13] Viktoriya Tomova (BUL)
Daria Saville (AUS) v [7] Magdalena Frech (POL)
Ladies’s first spherical
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v [W] Hailey Baptiste (USA)
