Stephens stunned but Serena cruises

INDIANWELLS: Swiss qualifier Stefanie Vogele stunned world No 4 Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-0 in Round 2 of BNP Paribas Open on Friday while Serena Williams got the better of Victoria Azarenka to advance. Vogele needed just over an hour to dispatch fourth seed Stephens and push her overall record to 4-1 against the 2017 US Open champion. Later, Williams smashed 39 winners to defeat Azarenka 7-5, 6-3 in a rematch of the 2016 final, which the Belarusian won.

WAWRINKA ADVANCES

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka made a triumphant return to Indian Wells on Friday, rallying for 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3 victory over British qualifier Daniel Evans to reach Round 2. It was a rematch of Wawrinka’s four-hour, five-set victory over Evans in Round 3 of the 2016 US Open — where the Swiss would go on to claim his third Grand Slam crown. Meanwhile, South African Kevin Anderson’s challenge ended before it began as he withdrew with an injury.

HINGIS BECOMES MOM

PARIS: Former world No 1 and five-time Grand Slam title winner Martina Hingis on Friday became the latest tennis mother after giving birth to a baby girl. Hingis, 38, revealed that she and husband Harald Leemann, the Swiss team’s Fed Cup doctor, were now parents. “And then we were three! Harry and I are excited to welcome our baby girl Lia to the world. We are already so in love,” tweeted Hingis.