Indian Wells: Osaka vs. Stephens in round one
With Naomi Osaka and Sloane Stephens , two former US Open winners meet in the first round of the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Indian Wells. Barbora Krejcikova starts in first place.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Mar 08, 2022, 11:55 am
It's been a little over a week since Sloane Stephens wrote in Guadalajara for the first time since 2018 as the tournament winner on the WTA tour. At the 1000 event in Indian Wells, the 2017 US Open winner is faced with a formidable task in round one: Stephens also meets Naomi Osaka, who chose to be her immediate successor in Flushing Meadows. And in 2020 he won a second title at the US Open. Stephens and Osaka go into the tournament unseeded, with the winner taking on Veronika Kudermetova in round two.
Like all seeded players, the Russian received a bye at the beginning. As does Angelique Kerber, number 15, who is waiting for the winner of the game between Vera Zvonareva and Qinwen Zheng.
At the top of the tableau resides after the cancellation of Ashleigh Barty Barbora Krejcikova. The Czech could meet either Simona Halep or Cori Gauff in the round of 16.
Pliskova returns, Andreescu is still missing
Karolina Pliskova, who missed the start of the 2022 season due to a hand injury, will report back. The Czech plays against the winner of the game between Danka Kovinic and Jil Teichmann. Bianca Andreescu, who won in Tennis Paradise in 2019, will still be missing.
Last year's winner Paula Badosa starts as number five, the Spaniard could face the first big hurdle in the round of 16, Jelena Ostapenko, who has regained her strength.