After two days of qualifying matches, WTP women’s play began Wednesday at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. All Wednesday matches featured unseeded players, as the 32 seeded competitors received byes into the competition’s second round.
BNP Paribas Open 2013 results: Zheng upset in first round
The top-rated player in first-round action loses in straight sets, and USA’s Christina McHale coasts into second round.
Julian Finney
Chinese pro Jie Zheng, who was the top-rated player in today’s first round matches, got summarily bounced out of the tournament by Ksenia Pervak 6-1, 6-2. 2004 US Open and 2009 French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova won her first round match 6-3, 6-1 over Andrea Hlavackova. She will face #18 Jelena Jankovic in the second round.
In the evening’s top match, American Christina McHale took on Tsvetana Pironkova of Russia, winning 6-3, 6-4, to advance into a second-round match with No. 13 Maria Kirilenko.
Italy’s Francesca Schiavone defeated fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-1, to set up a second-round clash with No. 2 Maria Sharapova. American Lauren Davis was quickly defeated by Simona Halep 6-2, 6-0.
On the men’s side of the draw, qualifying wrapped up Wednesday and tournament play is scheduled to start Thursday.
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