Former champion Simona Halep experienced a tougher than expected clash with Kateryna Kozlova before prevailing 7-6(3), 7-5, in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.
Halep, who is ranked 112 places higher than her opponent, was denied the ability to dominate proceedings during what was a match of fine margins. Kozlova is best known for knocking Jelena Ostapenko out in the first round of the 2018 French Open. Throughout their roller coaster match, which featured 11 breaks of serve, the Romanian hit 25 winners to 29 unforced errors. Winning 66% of her first service points, but only 46% of her second.
“I’m always nervous when I step onto this big court. It’s a beautiful court and the crowd are always nice. I always want to give my best and win the match.” Halep said during her on-court interview.
“It was really difficult against her (Kozlova) because I had never played her before. It was difficult to find a rhythm and to know what (shots) she plays. She’s a good player and I’m really proud that I could win in two sets.”
In what was their first tour meeting, Halep was severely tested by the underdog. 25-year-old qualifier Kozlova had won four matches in a row to reach the third round at Indian Wells in what was her best ever performance in a Premier Mandatory event. Throughout the first set, both players dropped their serve twice. Halep boasted a 5-3 lead, but an erratic service game allowed her opponent to claw her way back to level 5-5. Despite the blip, the world No.2 held her nerve to prevail in the tiebreaker. Capitalising on some costly Kozlova mistakes, Halep closed out the opening set with the help of a clean backhand down the line.
The changes in momentum continued into set number two with four consecutive breaks of serve until Halep held to nudge ahead. The second seed managed to then grab a strong hold in the match after a Kozlova error expanded her lead to 4-2. Closing in on her 25th win in the tournament, Halep failed to serve the match out of her first attempt. Seeing her 5-2 lead disappear.
Weathering the storm, Halep eventually came through in somewhat anticlimactic fashion. As Kozlova served to stay in the match, three consecutive unforced errors from the Ukrainian handed the former champion a trio of match points. The second seed converted the first of those with the help of a backhand winner down the line. Prompting a fist clench from the Romanian as she paid tribute to the crowd.
“It’s a beautiful atmosphere down here (on court) and because of you I could fight today and win the match.” Halep said to her army of fans who were waving Romanian flags around the stadium.
Halep has now reached the last 16 in Indian Wells for the fifth time in the past six years. In the next round she will play either 22nd seed Ostapenko or Markéta Vondroušová. It has been four years since she lifted the title, but the prospect of doing it again is the last thing on her mind.
“It’s very far to think about the title and of course I have no expectations.” She explained. “I don’t want to put pressure on myself. I just want to come here, fight in every match I play and then we’ll see.”
