Halep advances, Serena retires ill

INDIAN WELLS, USA: World No 2 Simona Halep survived a tough challenge from Ukrainian qualifier Kateryna Kozlova to win their third round match 7-6(3), 7-5 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, on Sunday.

The Romanian finally put away the 114th ranked Kozlova with eight consecutive points in the second set, a backhand winner proving the decider just as it had in the first set.

The tournament lost 23-times Grand Slam winner Serena Williams, who retired against Garbine Muguruza with what organisers described as a viral illness. The Spaniard was ahead 6-3 1-0 at the time.

Halep said her opponent had been tough to put away. “It was difficult for me to close out those sets,” she told reporters.

“When I was l eading t he match, she played without fear.”

The victory advanced the French Open champion, who won Indian Wells in 2015, to the fourth round for the fifth time in six years.

Former Wimbledon and French Open champion Muguruza was happy with the way she had been playing against Williams before the American’s retirement.

It was difficult for me to close out those sets. When I was leading the match, she (Kateryna) played without fear.

SIMONA HALEP, World No 2

Kiki Bertens will next meet Spain’s Muguruza.

NADAL, FEDERER WIN

World No 2 Rafael Nadal raced into the third round as Roger Federer made a less speedy but still successful start to his quest for a sixth title.

Nadal needed just 72 minutes to get past overmatched Jared Donaldson 6-1 6-1. Federer had to turn back a second-set challenge from German Peter Gojowczyk in a 6-1 7-5 win.

In other early matches, sixthseeded Kei Nishikori of Japan survived a scare in a 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7/4) victory over France’s Adrian Mannarino.