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Two-time former Indian Wells champion, Kim Clijsters’ return to the Californian desert ended with a first-round exit at the hands of Katerina Siniakova on Thursday. The Czech won 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 in an hour and 36 minutes.
Siniakova raced through the opening set and Clijsters played catch-up quite superbly in the second set to level the match. However, Siniakova upped the ante in the decider and went up a break early on in the set. A second service break helped Siniakova clinch the set and the match, and move into the second round.
In her on-court interview post-match, Siniakova shared what it meant for her to play – and win – against the Belgian. “It was really. I was actually looking forward (to this), because I remember when I was young, and I was watching her play, and she always did amazing.
So, it’s unbelievable I could stay with her on the court”. In the round-of-64, Siniakova will take on 10th seed Angelique Kerber.
Indian Wells: Caroline Garcia pips Kim Clijsters' compatriot
Siniakova’s compatriot, Marie Bouzkova, however, didn’t have a great outing in her first-round match at the BNP Paribas Open.
Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan defeated Bouzkova 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-4 in three hours and 52 minutes. Trevisan will play 18th seed Anett Kontaveit in the second round. France’s Caroline Garcia defeated Kirsten Flipkens in their first-round clash to reach the second round.
Garcia needed two hours and nine minutes to come from a set down and beat the Belgian qualifier, 5-7, 6-4, 6-0. Following her win, Garcia said, “We've had a couple of battles in the past and from what I remember, every time, it was three sets most of the time.
She started the match very well. She's coming from qualies so she's very confident, and for me, it's been a tough preparation. I was a little bit not feeling like myself, but I kept fighting on every point. I think really improved and the end of the first set, it was really close.
The second set was going more my way but she kept battling, and I stayed more solid”. For a spot in the third round at Indian Wells, Garcia will play 15th seed Coco Gauff. 