2022 Indian Wells winner Iga Swiatek started her title defence attempt at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday with a win. The world no. 1 defeated Claire Liu in their second-round match 6-0, 6-1 in 65 minutes. Swiatek was leading 6-0, 5-0 before Liu managed to hold her serve for the first – and only – time in the match.
She also saved a match point while doing so. Swiatek won 24 of 30 first-serve points and won 15 of 24 points on return on Liu’s first serve. She also won 12 of 18 points on return on her opponent’s second serve. Swiatek finished the match with 15 winners, 13 more than her rival’s two.
She also had 17 fewer unforced errors than Liu’s 26.
Indian Wells: Iga Swiatek vs Bianca Andreescu written on the cards
The Pole’s third-round opponent will be 32nd seed Bianca Andreescu. The Canadian took a tougher path to win her round-of-64 clash against American, Peyton Stearns.
Andreescu dropped the first set before scoring a comeback 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win against the wildcard after more than two hours and 30 minutes. Fourth seed Ons Jabeur return to the tour post her knee surgery was successful although she’d to work for it.
Poland’s Magdalena Frech took the first set against the Tunisian before the latter turned around the progress of the match to clinch a 4-6,…
