Badosa Moves On In Title Defense, Azarenka And Kontaveit Fall; Women’s 4R Today

Just 3 of the Top 14 seeds made to the Indian Wells Masters fourth round. Defending champion Paula Badosa made it through yesterday but fellow champion and 2-time Victoria Azarenka and red-hot Anett Kontaveit both fell.

Badosa took care of her countrywoman Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-6(1), 6-1. An 82-minute first set features six breaks of serve at the start.

“I think today she played very, very good in the first set. She was a very tough opponent,” Badosa said. “I was expecting that. She’s a fighter. Last year was amazing for her. The bad part is that we know each other very well. Before I was hitting she already was in the spot. That was the negative part. But still I’m happy about her level. I think she’s improving a lot.”

Badosa has now won her last eight match at Indian Wells, but today will meet US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez.

The slight Canadian took down American Shelby Rogers 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 who she had lost to in this event last fall. Badosa beat Fernandez in their lone prior meeting in Auckland qualies a few years ago.

“I remember we were both playing really well, serving well,” Fernandez said. “It was a close match. I think it’s going to be as exciting as the last one.”

Added Badosa, “I was going to say she’s the future because she is very young, but I think she is in the present already. I expect a very tough match.”

Two-time champion and 2021 finalist Azarenka got bounced by Elena Rybakina 6-3, 6-4 and Kontaveit was cooled by Marketa Vondrousova in a final set breaker 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(5).

Maria Sakkari pounded Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-0 and Daria Saville pulled her second upset over a seed defeating Elise Mertens.

Today, all eight round of 16 matches will be contested highlighted by Badosa-Fernandez and Iga Swiatek-Angelique Kerber.

Badosa and Simona Halep are the only former champions left. Kerber has made the finals before.

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