INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Former World No.5 Eugenie Bouchard became the last woman to enter the second round of the BNP Paribas Open with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over qualifier Risa Ozaki.
“My opponent played really well,” Bouchard said during her on-court interview, adding, “She was getting a lot of balls back, and she really made me work for it. It was a tough first round here, but I’m glad to be through to the second round.”
Ozaki has been in good form of late, pushing Elina Svitolina to three sets last week at the BMW Malaysia Open, where Bouchard reached the final – also falling to Svitolina in three sets.
Bouchard was five points from defeat in the second set; despite leading by a break multiple times, Ozaki kept it close and had chances to force the former Wimbledon finalist to serve to stay in it.
“Thank you for your belief,” Bouchard said, joking with interviewer Andrew Krasny, who commented on the closeness of the match.
Despite hitting 47 errors in the match, the Canadian managed 31 winners – 21 more than Ozaki, and showed improved initiative to finish points off at the net, venturing forward 20 times.
“I just kept fighting; I definitely felt a bit off. The conditions are different from where I’ve been. I traveled recently and just kind of adjusting to everything is definitely a bit tough. But I tried to put that aside and tried to play tennis, and somehow it worked out.”
Up next for Bouchard is No.21 seed Sloane Stephens, who is looking for her first major result in 2016 after winning two International titles in Auckland and Acapulco. Stephens leads their overall head-to-head 2-1 – winning their most recent match at the 2013 China Open, and both have worked with coach Nick Saviano. Though Bouchard will be playing in front of Stephens’ home crowd, the Canadian fan support has helped her feel like Indian Wells is further up north than any map would indicate.
“I feel like I’m home in Canada. I think 95% of you come up to me and say, ‘I’m from Canada too!’ I love that; thank you guys. I love all the flags!”
Earlier in the day, Russia’s Daria Kasatkina closed Thursday’s day session with an emphatic 6-2, 6-4 win over wildcard and two-time BNP Paribas Open champion Daniela Hantuchova.
The Slovak burst onto the WTA scene back in 2002, when she upset Martina Hingis for the biggest title of her career; repeating the feat in 2007, Hantuchova has been ranked as high as No.5, but had few answers for the new teen in town. Kasatkina was all business on her Stadium Court debut, matching Hantuchova’s 21 winners and hitting 17 errors to her veteran opponent’s 33.
“It’s my first time here and I’m really happy to be here. It’s a nice tournament,” Kasatkina said, before commenting on the unfamiliar echo, “It’s so difficult when you can hear you voice!”
The 18-year-old, one of three in the Top 50 – the biggest contingent since April 2009 – quickly regained her composure, finishing the interview by wishing her mother a happy birthday.
“It’s always difficult to play your first match of the tournament, especially against such a good player like Daniela, and it’s my first match on such a big court!”
Kasatkina will look to earn another big scalp when she faces No.6 seed Carla Suárez Navarro.
“I didn’t know I’m playing her because I didn’t see the draw. But she’s playing very well; she won her last tournament, so I have to play my best tennis to beat her.”
Fellow Russian Margarita Gasparyan also made a splash in the California desert on Thursday, dispatching Belarus’ Olga Govortsova, 6-1, 6-3; she will play No.9 seed Roberta Vinci for a spot in the third round. Annika Beck silenced the home crowd when she defeated American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, 6-2, 6-2, while Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig laid down a stunning display to defeat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, 6-1, 6-2. Americans Shelby Rogers and Madison Brengle survived tricky encounters against Mariana Duque-Mariño, respectively, while Australian Open quarterfinalist Zhang Shuai set up a second round with former No.1 Caroline Wozniacki after edging past Pauline Parmentier in a first set tie-break, leading the French veteran to retire due to an upper respiratory illness.
