Indian Wells 2012: Azarenka dumps Sharapova for BNP Paribas Open Title

03/18 Update: For the second time this season, world #1 Victoria Azarenka dominated #2 Maria Sharapova to win the Indian Wells 2012 tennis tournament. Azarenka overwhelmed Sharapova in straight sets 62 63 to win her first ever BNP Paribas Open and extend her perfect season to 23-0. It was Azarenka's fourth title this year after winning titles in Sydney, Melbourne and Doha. Azarenka won $1 Million for the title, while Sharapova earns $500,000 as runner-up. In the doubles tournament, the top seeded American doubles pair of L Huber and L Raymond beat #2-seeded team of S Mirza and E Vesnina 62 63.

Indian Wells 2012 - Results: Sunday, March 18, 2012

WTA Main Draw Singles - Final
[1] V Azarenka (BLR) d [2] M Sharapova (RUS) 62 63

WTA Main Draw Doubles - Final
[1] L Huber (USA) / L Raymond (USA) d [2] S Mirza (IND) / E Vesnina (RUS) 62 63


03/16 Update: The top two players in the world advanced to the finals of the Indian Wells 2012 tennis tournament to set-up a highly anticipated final that will feature a rematch of the championship match at the Australian Open last January. #1 Victoria Azarenka improved to a perfect 22-0 for this season when she beat Paris winner and new top 15-player Angelique Kerber 64 63. The 22 consecutive match wins is the best start for a WTA tennis player since Martina Hingis in 1997. Azarenka's perfect record will be tested by world #2 Maria Sharapova. Sharapova advanced after Ana Ivanovic retired with a left hip injury while the top Russian player was leading 64 01.

Indian Wells 2012 - Results: Friday, March 16, 2012

Singles - Semifinals
(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (18) Angelique Kerber (GER) 64 63
(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (15) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 64 01 ret. (left hip injury)

Doubles - Semifinals
(1) Huber/Raymond (USA/USA) d. Benesova/Zahlavova Strycova (CZE/CZE) 61 62

03/15 Update: Two glamorous WTA tennis stars, both former tournament champions as well as former #1 players, advanced to a semifinal showdown at the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday. #2-seed Maria Sharapova won a three set battle of two Russian players named Maria, and she had to dig hard to comeback after losing the first set in her 36 75 62 victory over #20 Maria Kirilenko. Earlier in the day, #15-seed Ana Ivanovic defeated #7-seed Marion Bartoli for her second straight win over a top 10 player. She ousted defending champion Caroline Wozniacki in the round of 16. Ivanovic avenged her loss to Bartoli in the same stage last year. Ivanovic is through to her first WTA semi-final of the season here at Indian Wells 2012. She won the tournament in 2008 beating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final, and reached the finals in 2009 losing to Vera Zvonareva.

Indian Wells 2012 - Results: Thursday, March 15, 2012

WTA Main Draw Singles - Quarter-finals
[2] M Sharapova (RUS) d [20] M Kirilenko (RUS) 36 75 62
[15] A Ivanovic (SRB) d [7] M Bartoli (FRA) 63 64

WTA Main Draw Doubles – Semi-finals
[2] S Mirza (IND) / E Vesnina (RUS) d [3] A Hlavackova (CZE) / L Hradecka (CZE) 57 75 10-3

03/14 Update: #1 Victoria Azarenka improved her perfect 2012 season to 21-0 as she mercilessly pounded #5-seed Agnieszka Radwanska out of the Indian Wells 2012 tennis tournament. The match anticipated quarterfinal between the two players who have won a leading 20 matches this season turned into a one-sided affair as Azarenka threatened to give Radwanska her first double bagel loss in her career. The top-seeded player was serving 60 50, 30-all when Radwanska countered by winning six straight points to put herself in the scoreboard. Azarenka overwhelmed Poland's #1 in the number of winners - 26 to 7. Despite the loss, Radwanska will move to a career high #4 in the WTA rankings when it will be released next Monday. Azarenka now advances to the semifinals against #18-seed Angelique Kerber, this year's Paris champion. Kerber upset #8-seed Li Na in straight sets 64 62 to reach her first Indian Wells semifinals. In women's doubles, the #2-seed of Mirza/Vesnina reached the semifinals after beating the Argentine pair of Dulko/Suárez in straight sets 62 63.

Indian Wells 2012 - Results: Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Singles - Quarterfinals
(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (5) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 60 62
(18) Angelique Kerber (GER) d. (8) Li Na (CHN) (CHN) 64 62

Doubles - Quarterfinals
(2) Mirza/Vesnina (IND/RUS) d. (WC) Dulko/Suárez (ARG/ARG) 62 63
(3) Hlavackova/Hradecka (CZE/CZE) d. (5) Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) 62 76(4)

03/13 Update: #1 Victoria Azarenka and #2 Maria Sharapova moved closer to an Indian Wells 2012 finals showdown by posting impressive straight set wins against fourth round opponents to lead six other seeded players into the BNP Paribas Open women's singles quarterfinals. Azarenka dumped Julia Goerges 63 61 while Sharapova dumped Roberta Vinci 62 61. In a battle of former #1 players, Ana Ivanovic dethroned defending champion Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets 63 62. The loss meant that Wozniacki may fall off the top 5 in the world rankings after starting this year ranked #1. #5 Agnieszka Radwanska advanced to a quarterfinal showdown with Azarenka when American wildcard Jamie Hampton retired while trailing 63 46 30. #18-seed Angelique Kerber's win over #32-seed Christina McHale meant that no American players remain in the women's singles competition. #7 Marion Bartoli, #8 Li Na, and #20 Maria Kirilenko make up the remaining Indian Wells 2012 quarterfinalists.

Indian Wells 2012 - Results: Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Singles - Fourth Round
(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (14) Julia Goerges (GER) 63 61
(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (21) Roberta Vinci (ITA) 62 61
(15) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. (4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 63 62
(5) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (WC) Jamie Hampton (USA) 63 46 30 ret. (cramping)
(7) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. (23) Lucie Safarova (CZE) 61 64
(8) Li Na (CHN) d. Klara Zakopalova (CZE) 61 60
(18) Angelique Kerber (GER) d. (32) Christina McHale (USA) 63 36 76(4)
(20) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d. (30) Nadia Petrova (RUS) 61 57 62

Doubles - Quarterfinals
(1) Huber/Raymond (USA/USA) d. Gajdosova/Mattek-Sands (AUS/USA) 64 26 105
Benesova/Zahlavova Strycova (CZE/CZE) d. Dellacqua/Stosur (AUS/AUS) 36 62 107

03/12 Update: WTA stars Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki continued their advance in the Indian Wells 2012 women’s singles draw while US Open champion Samantha Stosur was upset on Monday’s action at the BNP Paribas Open. #2-seed Sharapova advanced to the fourth round with a 63 64 victory over Simona Halep while #4-seed and defending champion Wozniacki went the distance in overcoming Sofia Arvidsson 36 75 62. Veteran #30-seed Nadia Petrova eliminated Stosur in a third set tiebreak 61 67(6) 76(5) and #10-seed Schiavone retired from her third round match while trailing #23-seed Lucie Safarova. Former champion and #15-seed Ana Ivanovic, #7-seed Marion Bartoli, #20-seed Maria Kirilenko, and #21-seed Roberta Vinci all advanced to the round of 16.

Indian Wells 2012 - Results: Monday, March 12, 2012

Singles - Third Round
(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Simona Halep (ROU) 63 64
(4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 36 75 62
(30) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (6) Samantha Stosur (AUS) 61 67(6) 76(5)
(7) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 62 60
(23) Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. (10) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 62 ret. (GI illness)
(15) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Ksenia Pervak (KAZ) 67(8) 63 62
(21) Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. (16) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 67(5) 60 64
(20) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d. Lourdes Domínguez Lino (ESP) 62 46 64

Doubles - Second Round
(5) Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) d. (WC) Azarenka/Kvitova (BLR/CZE) w/o (Kvitova: GI illness)
(WC) Dulko/Suárez (ARG/ARG) d. Begu/Martínez Sánchez (ROU/ESP) 43 ret. (Martínez Sánchez: right thigh injury)


03/11 Update: The biggest news of the Indian Wells 2012 women’s singles so far is the upset caused by young American Christina McHale. McHale shocked #3 seed and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova to advance to the fourth round 26 62 63. #1 seed Victoria Azarenka won her 19th straight match of the year and remains undefeated in an impressive straight set victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova 61 62. She advances to the fourth round to face in-form #14 Julia Goerges, the Dubai 2012 finalist. Also advancing to the round of 16 are #5 Agnieszka Radwanska, #8 Li Na, and #18 Angelique Kerber. Amercan wildcard Jamie Hampton won her third straight match and now advances to her first Indian Wells fourth round match. In doubles, the American top seeded team of Huber and Raymond advanced by beating the pair of Erakovic and Niculescu in second round action.

Indian Wells 2012 - Results: Sunday, March 11, 2012

Singles - Third Round
(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (25) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 61 62
(32) Christina McHale (USA) d. (3) Petra Kvitova (CZE) 26 62 63
(5) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (27) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 64 62
(8) Li Na (CHN) d. (31) Zheng Jie (CHN) 61 63
Klara Zakopalova (CZE) d. (9) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) w/o (viral illness)
(14) Julia Goerges (GER) d. (24) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 63 64
(18) Angelique Kerber (GER) d. Vania King (USA) w/o (GI illness)
(WC) Jamie Hampton (USA) d. Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) 62 67(1) 62

Doubles - Second Round
(1) Huber/Raymond (USA/USA) d. Erakovic/Niculescu (NZL/ROU) 57 75 103
(2) Mirza/Vesnina (IND/RUS) d. Bacsinszky/Brianti (SUI/ITA) 61 36 102
Benesova/Zahlavova Strycova (CZE/CZE) d. (4) Kirilenko/Petrova (RUS/RUS) 63 64
Dellacqua/Stosur (AUS/AUS) d. (8) Groenefeld/King (GER/USA) w/o (King: GI illness)


03/10 Update: World #2 Maria Sharapova led five seeded players in the top 10 into the third round of the Indian Wells 2012 tennis tournament. Sharapova beat Gisela Dulko 62 60 while defending champion Caroline Wozniacki beat Ekaterina Makarova with the same score. #6-seed Samantha Stosur and #7-seed Marion Bartoli beat Americans Irina Falconi and Varvara Lepchenko, respectively to advance to the round of 32. Other seeded players advancing include former French Open champions Francesca Schiavone and Ana Ivanovic, and Russian seeds Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova. #11-seed Sabine Lisicki is the highest seed who lost on Saturday, and she was joined in the sidelines by #17 Peng Shuai, #26 Monica Niculescu, #28 Petra Cetkovska, and #29 Kaia Kanepi.

Indian Wells 2012 - Results: Saturday, March 10, 2012

WTA Main Draw Singles - Second Round
[2] M Sharapova (RUS) d G Dulko (ARG) 62 60
[4] C Wozniacki (DEN) d E Makarova (RUS) 62 60
[6] S Stosur (AUS) d [WC] I Falconi (USA) 60 63
[7] M Bartoli (FRA) d [Q] V Lepchenko (USA) 26 62 75
[10] F Schiavone (ITA) d [Q] L Tsurenko (UKR) 62 64
L Dominguez Lino (ESP) d [11] S Lisicki (GER) 61 64
[15] A Ivanovic (SRB) d J Larsson (SWE) 61 62
[16] D Cibulkova (SVK) d M Rybarikova (SVK) 21 ret. (illness)
K Pervak (KAZ) d [17] S Peng (CHN) 64 60
[20] M Kirilenko (RUS) d I Begu (ROU) 76(4) 64
[21] R Vinci (ITA) d S Soler-Espinosa (ESP) 63 63
[23] L Safarova (CZE) d T Paszek (AUT) 63 31 ret. (right wrist)
S Arvidsson (SWE) d [26] M Niculescu (ROU) 63 63
S Halep (ROU) d [28] P Cetkovska (CZE) 62 64
C Scheepers (RSA) d [29] K Kanepi (EST) 63 62
[30] N Petrova (RUS) d [WC] L Davis (USA) 63 62

03/09 Update: For some time, it looked like Victoria Azarenka's 17-match winning streak this year was about to end in the 2nd round of Indian Wells 2012 but after battling all the way to the end, the world #1 scraped by Mona Barthel in a third set tiebreak. She now advances to the third round alongside several seeds and two young Americans who upset seeded opponents. The biggest upset of the day was caused by Jamie Hampton of the United States who eliminated former world #1 Jelena Jankovic. Vania King defeated #13-seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Another young American, #32-seed Christina McHale continues to impress as she beat veteran Elena Vesnina in straight sets. Other seeded players to advance into the third round included #9 Vera Zvonareva, #14 Julia Goerges, #25 Svetlana Kuznetsova, #27 Flavia Pennetta, and #31 Zheng Jie. Two-time champion and #19-seed Daniela Hantuchova was upset by Klara Zakopalova in three sets. In matches completed late on Friday - favorites #3 Petra Kvitova and #5 Agnieszka Radwanska also advanced.

Indian Wells 2012 - Results: Friday, March 9, 2012

Singles - Second Round
(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. Mona Barthel (GER) 64 67(4) 76(6)
(3) Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 61 63
(5) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 62 64
(8) Li Na (CHN) d. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 36 63 63
(9) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d. Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) 63 64
(WC) Jamie Hampton (USA) d. (12) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 64 63
Vania King (USA) d. (13) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 64 64
(14) Julia Goerges (GER) d. Elena Baltacha (GBR) 63 62
(18) Angelique Kerber (GER) d. (WC) Sloane Stephens (USA) 26 75 64
Klara Zakopalova (CZE) d. (19) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 63 67(7) 63
Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) d. (22) Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 26 62 64
(24) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) d. (WC) Sania Mirza (IND) 62 75
(25) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 63 20 ret. (right forearm injury)
(27) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) 63 64
(31) Zheng Jie (CHN) d. (Q) Michaella Krajicek (NED) 61 63
(32) Christina McHale (USA) d. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 63 75

03/07 Update: First round action started at the Indian Wells 2012 tennis tournament with one American wild-card advancing to the second round while two other American wild-card entries failed to advance. American veteran Jill Craybas was defeated in straight sets by Mona Barthel and young American Coco Vandeweghe went the distance before losing to Jarmila Gajdosova of Australia. American Jamie Hampton, a wild card entry, advanced to the second round by routing Polona Hercog of Slovakia, 60 61. Other first round winners include Kimiko Date-Krumm, Sorana Cirstea, and Timea Bacsinszky.

Indian Wells 2012 - Results: Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Singles - First Round

Mona Barthel (GER) d. (WC) Jill Craybas (USA) 61 62
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. Iveta Benesova (CZE) 46 75 76(5)
Klara Zakopalova (CZE) d. Laura Pous-Tio (ESP) 61 61
Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) d. (WC) Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 46 63 63
Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) d. Marina Erakovic (NZL) 57 63 75
Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) d. Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 64 62
Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) d. Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 61 63
Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d. Anne Keothavong (GBR) 64 26 75
(WC) Jamie Hampton (USA) d. Polona Hercog (SLO) 60 61

Tournament Preview: WTA world #1 Victoria Azarenka is in arguably the most difficult quadrant of the Indian Wells 2012 women’s singles draw. She is scheduled to play 2-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the third round, Dubai finalist Julia Goerges in the fourth round, and Dubai title holder and world #5 Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals. Radwanska has previously complained about Azarenka’s gamesmanship after losing to Azarenka for the third straight time this year in Doha.

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova is in Azarenka’s half of the draw. Kvitova may meet Paris winner Angelique Kerber in the fourth round. Kvitova’s quarterfinal opponent may be French Open champion Na Li who is expected to set-up an exciting fourth round match-up against 2-time champion and Pattaya winner Daniela Hantuchova.

World #2 Maria Sharapova is in the bottom half of the draw with defending champion and world #4 Caroline Wozniacki. Sharapova’s quarterfinal opponent is most likely the sixth seed and US Open champion Samantha Stosur. Wozniacki meanwhile is in a tricky part of the draw where she’s expected to meet former #1 and former champion Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round. Last year’s runner-up, Marion Bartoli, is seeded seventh this year and could very well be Wozniacki’s quarterfinal opponent if both reach that far.

Two former champions are absent from the Indian Wells 2012 event - Kim Clijsters is missing out this year due to an injury, while 13-time Grand Slam winner, Serena Williams has boycotted this tennis tournament after winning her second title in 2001.

The women's singles tournament at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells 2012 is scheduled to start on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 with first round action. [Watch Indian Wells 2012 Live Online]. All 32 seeded players have a first round bye. The winner of Indian Wells 2012 will take home $1,000,000 in prize money earnings and earn 1000 ranking points.