Clijsters Shoots, Scores in WTA Indian Wells Opener

Qualifiers put in a sterling effort Wednesday, with five of seven in action advancing into the second round in Czech Eva Birnerova (d. Tanasugarn), Russian Maria Kirilenko (d. Perebiynis 0-and-1), Croat Silvija Talaja (d. Parra Santonja, bagel in the second), Japan's Rika Fujiwara (d. Jidkova), and Argentine Mariana Diaz-Oliva (d. Brandi).

A plethora of bagel sets on day one revealed a number of European players caught off guard by the hot desert conditions.

Other un-seeds into the second round were Americans Laura Granville (d. countrywoman Irvin in three), Abigail Spears (d. Kurhajcova 7-6 in the third, saving two match points) and (WC) Jamea Jackson (d. Barna), Italy's Tathiana Garbin (d. Kapros), Frenchwoman Severine Beltrame (d. Chladkova), Poland's Marta Domachowska (d. (Q) Salerni in three), Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives (d. (Q) Pin, bagel in the second), the Ukraine's Yuliana Fedak (d. Razzano, bagel in the second), Madagascar's Dally Randriantefy (d. Ruano Pascual), and Russian Anna Chakvetadze (d. Sucha, bagel in the first).

"I always try to fight for every point," said Spears on saving match points. "I just really got after myself, felt like I was just giving her the match."

Justine Henin-Hardenne is not defending her Indian Wells title as she recovers from a knee injury, but will return in two weeks at Miami.

On court Thursday in I.W. are Karatantcheva vs. Weingartner, Haynes vs. Santangelo, Vaidisova vs. Washington, Glatch vs. Craybas, Strycova vs. An.Serra Zanetti, Kirkland vs. Voskoboeva, Sanchez Lorenzo vs. Schaul, Bedamova vs. Peschke, A.Bondarenko vs. Srebotnik, Mandula vs. Loit, Kremer vs. Kleybanova, Yakimova vs. Cervanova, Kutuzova vs. Gagliardi, Uberoi vs. Morigami, Pastikova vs. Lee-Waters, and Marrero vs. Cho.

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