Indian Wells: Sharapova loses to Naomi Osaka in first round
Sharapova slumps to first round loss
Indian Wells ( USA), March 8: Maria Sharapova’s return to the BNP Paribas Open for the first time in three years ended in a 4- 6, 4- 6 loss to Naomi Osaka of Japan.
Sharapova’s ranking of No. 41 in the world forced her to play a first- round match in the tournament she has won twice.
She trailed 1- 4 in the first set before holding serve at 4- all. But Osaka held to go up 5- 4 and broke Sharapova on a double fault to close out the set.
Ranked 44th in the world, Osaka took a 4- 2 lead in the second set. Sharapova broke to tie it 4- all before Osaka won the final two games to end the 90- minute match.
Sam Stosur overcame a slow start to beat American Lauren Davis 36, 6- 3, 6- 3.
Two American teenagers advanced to the second round. Amanda Anisimova defeated 94thranked Pauline Parmentier 6- 2, 6- 2 for her first WTA Tour victory. The 16- year- old Anisimova, who earned a wild card into the main draw, is the U. S. Open junior champion.
Caroline Dolehide, a 19year- old wild card, fired 11 aces in outlasting 78thranked Shelby Rogers, 3- 6, 7- 6 ( 6), 6- 3 in 2 1/ 2 hours.
In other matches on the first day of the two- week tournament, Belinda Bencic saved a match point in beating Timea Babos, 1- 6, 6- 1, 7- 6 ( 4), while wild card Genie Bouchard lost to qualifier Sachia Vickery, 6- 3, 6- 4.
SERENA EAGER TO HIT FORM AGAIN
Meanwhile, Serena Williams is through taking baby steps on the comeback trail after the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia in September.
The 23- time Grand Slam singles winner is ramping up her return this week by playing in Indian Wells, her first WTA Tour event since she won the 2017 Australian Open.
After a couple of exhibitions and a Davis Cup doubles match, Serena is eager to hit with the big guns as she opens her campaign on Thursday night against Zarina Diyas. “I’m ready to just jump in and get started and see what happens,” she said.