Angelique Kerber survived a Pauline Parmentier onslaught as she won 7-5 3-6 7-5 to progress to the fourth round in Indian Wells.
In their first meeting on a hard court, it was Kerber who broke first blood as in the fourth game she broke on her fourth break point to take a 3-1 lead. However the big serving Frenchwoman wouldn’t go down without a fight and broke back immediately as the first set was back on serve. Despite a poor 53% of first serves going in, Parmentier remained aggressive and the pressure told for the world number 62 as she broke in the ninth game to serve for the first set at 5-4. However despite having set point, she would be broken for 5-5. This would be a critical stage in the first set as Kerber went into first gear and won two consecutive games to grab the first set 7-5. Was there anyway back for Parmentier? Could she block the Psychological vulnerability that she showed in the first set?
Parmentier would start the second set with newfound aggression as she won the first three games to storm into a 3-0 lead against the former world number one. Despite Kerber breaking in the third game for 3-1, Parmentier would not be denied as she broke straight back to love for a 4-1 lead in the second set. Despite a late Kerber resistance, Parmentier would hold her nerve to grab the second set 6-3.
The final set saw a confident start from both women however it was Parmentier after a German double fault who broke to love to gain a 3-1 lead. Despite holding a gritty service game for a 4-1 lead, the next service game she wasn’t as lucky as a ten minute epic game lead to a Kerber break and the third set was tied at 4-4. Despite a couple of good service games, Kerber eventually broke French resistance and served out the match on her third match point to seal victory in under two and a half hours.
Kerber Praises Opponent After Contest
Angelique Kerber praised Pauline Parmentier after her tough victory, “I mean Pauline was playing unbelievable from the first ball and i think we both battled until the end.” She added, “It it really hot here, but at the end I think it was a really tough match and a really high level match from both of us. I’m just happy to win the match because it was really close. It was a really up and down match for me, but I’m just happy to be in the next round.”
It was a really good match from both women, Parmentier will be gutted that she couldn’t finish Kerber off, however it is the soon to be world number one who does make the fourth round and will meet Elena Vesnina in the fourth round.
