Undercurrents in Indian team
INDIAN WELLS, United States, March 10, 2018 (AFP) - World number one Simona Halep and fifth seed Karolina Pliskova eased through their WTA Indian Wells openers but reigning Wimbledon champ Garbine Muguruza bit the dust in the California desert.
Halep beat Karolina's sister Kristyna Pliskova 6-4, 6-4 while Karolina eased past Irina-Camelia Begu 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 to reach the third round of the combined WTA/ ATP hardcourt tournament.
Muguruza became the first major casualty of the event, suffering a shock 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 defeat to world number 100 Sachia Vickery.
"It slipped away a little bit from me," said Muguruza. "I'm going to learn a lot from this match. I'm going to watch it and I'm going to see what went wrong."
Muguruza, who was seeded third here, was named WTA player of the year last year after winning titles in Wimbledon and Cincinnati. The 24-year-old also reached number one in the world in September and was ranked third heading into Indian Wells.
This the Spaniard's first loss to a player ranked in the 100s since she was beaten by Jana Cepelova (124) at Wimbledon in 2016.
Muguruza had five double faults and had her serve broken five times in the two hour, 11 minute night match.
Crowd favourite Vickery posted her first career win over a top 10 player as she served masterfully and controlled the rallies with her ground strokes.
Vickery said the partisan crowd motivated her.
"The atmosphere really helped me even though I was feeling it a bit physically. I kept telling myself 'just do your best'," said the 22-year-old who is making her second appearance in Indian Wells.
Halep roared into the third round by overpowering Kristyna in straight sets.
The 26-year-old Romanian will meet US wildcard Caroline Dolehide who beat Dominika Cibulkova, of Slovakia, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
"I was ready to play. I was ready to work and ready to fight," Halep said. "It wasn't an easy match. But I am really happy I won my first match here and I get a chance to play again."
Halep and Caroline Wozniacki have been taking turns at No. 1 this year.
Denmark's Wozniacki took the world number one ranking after beating Halep in three sets in the Australian Open final, but
Halep reclaimed it from her just prior to Indian Wells.
Wozniacki will play her first match of the tournament on Saturday against qualifier Lara Arruabarrena.