TENNIS WTA PREMIER MANDATORY – Former World Number 11 Roberta Vinci fought back from a set down and a shoulder injury to edge Jarmila Gajdosova 4-6 6-1 6-2. Vinci’s compatriot Karin Knapp was beaten by Yanina Wickmayer who recovered from a break down twice in the second set to win 6-1 7-5. Diego Sampaolo
Former World Number 11 Roberta Vinci fought back from a set down and a shoulder injury to edge Jarmila Gajdosova 4-6 6-1 6-2. Vinci’s compatriot Karin Knapp was beaten by Yannina Wickmayer who recovered from a break down twice in the second set to win 6-1 7-5. The Belgian player will take on Maria Sharapova in the second round. Sharapova won their only previous match but 2009 US Open semifinalist Wickmayer pushed this match to the third round.
Chinese qualifier Zhu Lin rallied from a set down to overcome 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 0-6 6-3 6-3.
Twice Indian Wells champion Daniela Hantuchova, who won this tournament in 2002 and 2007, was upset by Klara Koukalova who prevailed with 6-4 1-6 6-3.
Kirsten Flipkens beat Rising Star Shelby Rodgers 6-2 6.4. Great Britain’s Heather Watson, who won her second career title in Hobart, edged German Julia Georges in three sets with 6-4 5-7 6-3 to set up a second round against Camila Giorgi. The young Italian player won their only previous match in Beijing in three sets in 2012. Mona Barthel beat Kristina Mladenovic 6-3 5-7 6-4 to set up a second round match with Lucie Safarova. Monica Niculescu dropped just three games in her 6-2 6-1 win over Aleksandra Krunic and will face Serena Williams who will make her return to Indian Wells after 14 years of absence. Sloane Stephens beat Chanelle Scheppers 7-5 7-5.
Martina Hingis made her debut with her new doubles partner Sania Mirza eased past Karolina Pliskova and Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2 6-1.