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Siniakova stops returning Clijsters; Garcia sets meeting with Gauff in Indian Wells

Two-time champion Kim Clijsters made her first look in ten years on the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday, however the former World No.1 fell on the first hurdle.

Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic outlasted Clijsters of Belgium, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2, in an hour and 36 minutes, to choose up her first singles win because the first spherical of the US Open.

Within the Czech’s first assembly with Clijsters, Siniakova fended off a valiant second-set comeback from the four-time main champion earlier than regrouping within the third set and amassing her first singles win at Indian Wells since 2018.

By shifting ahead, Siniakova units up a second-round assembly with one other former World No.1 and multiple-Grand Slam champion, No.10 seed Angelique Kerber.

Clijsters gained the BNP Paribas Open in 2003 and 2005, and final performed the occasion in 2011 earlier than her retirement in 2012. After an eight-year absence from the tour, Clijsters returned to motion early final season, and she or he went 0-3 in 2020 after shut losses to Garbine Muguruza, Johanna Konta, and Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Clijsters made her 2021 season debut final week in Chicago, dropping to Hsieh Su-wei in three units. The Belgian has now performed 5 matches since her return, and although she has been in rivalry in all of them, she remains to be in search of the primary win of her comeback.

This time, it was World No.53 Siniakova who bought the higher of Clijsters, benefiting from key factors greater than the 38-year-old former No.1 did. Every participant held 9 break factors, however Siniakova transformed six of hers, whereas Clijsters might solely convert three.

Earlier on Thursday, former Prime 10 participant Caroline Garcia will likely be American teenager Coco Gauff’s first opponent in her debut on the BNP Paribas Open, after the Frenchwoman sealed a 5-7, 6-4, 6-0 victory over Belgian qualifier Kirsten Flipkens in Indian Wells on Thursday. 

Checking in at World No. 59 within the rankings within the rankings this week, the previous World No. 4 gained 9 straight video games to seal a 2 hour, 9-minute opening spherical and first-ever hardcourt victory in opposition to Flipkens, who returned to the tour final week in Chicago after six months off with an ankle damage.

The comeback snapped a seven-set dropping streak for Garcia, as she’d misplaced her final three matches in straight units relationship again to the second spherical of the US Open.

“We have had a few battles up to now and from what I keep in mind, each time, it was three units more often than not. She began the match very nicely. She’s coming from qualies so she’s very assured, and for me, it has been a tricky preparation,” Garcia mentioned.

“I used to be somewhat bit not feeling like myself, however I stored preventing on each level. I believe actually improved and the tip of the primary set, it was actually shut. The second set was going extra my method however she stored battling, and I stayed extra strong.” 

With Garcia overcoming the one-set deficit (and minor wardrobe malfunction), she and Gauff, seeded No. 15 within the singles draw, will play for the primary time.

First-time pairing Fernandez & Gauff storm to opening doubles win: Indian Wells Highlights

2021 Indian Wells

Whereas the Frenchwoman was sealing her victory, the 17-year-old American was additionally in motion on Thursday, however with a associate by her aspect.

Gauff and her fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez, of their first matches since reaching the US Open doubles and singles finals, respectively, eased to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Irina-Camelia Begu and Renata Voracova in doubles motion in Palm Springs.

Additionally coming from a set all the way down to seal a second-round berth with a final-set bagel was Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova, who battled again in opposition to Polona Hercog in a 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory. The previous World No. 11 would be the first opponent for No. 12 seed Ons Jabeur.

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