Kerber advances at Indian Wells

Poised to return to the top spot in next week’s world rankings, Angelique Kerber narrowly avoided an upset at the BNP Paribas Open on Monday.

Kerber outlasted Pauline Parmentier of France 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in the third round when temperatures soared to the upper 90s (36 C) under cloudless skies in the Southern California desert. That’s nearly 20 degrees higher than the seasonal average of 78 (25 C).

One of their games lasted 11 minutes and another went on for 9 1/2 minutes. Kerber rallied from a 1-4 deficit in the third set.

“I was starting to believe in myself again,” she said.

The second-seeded German arrived early this year to better prepare for an event whose slow courts and extreme temperatures have bedeviled her in the past.

In nine previous appearances, Kerber’s best results were semifinal berths in 2012 and ’13. She had lost in the second round for the past three years.

“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,” she said. “The balls are flying a little bit different, as well.”

Regardless of Kerber’s results, she is assured of regaining the No. 1 ranking from Serena Williams, who withdrew before the tournament began because of what she said was a left knee injury. Kerber dropped to No. 2 after the Australian Open in January.