Tomljanovic advances to second round at Indian Wells

Ajla Tomljanovic was among the Australian winners at Indian Wells today, scoring a three-set victory against American hope Hailey Baptiste in the opening round.


Thursday 10 March 2022
Leigh Rogers
Indian Wells, USA
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 17: Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia plays a backhand in her first round singles match against Paula Badosa of Spain during day one of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 17, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Ajla Tomljanovic has made a winning start to her Indian Wells campaign, recording a 6-2 2-6 6-2 victory against American wildcard Hailey Baptiste in opening-round action today.

The 28-year-old Australian made the most of her opportunities in the one-hour and 50-minute battle, converting six of the nine break points she earned.

World No.39 Tomljanovic also proved clutch under pressure, saving seven of the 11 break points she faced.

The three-set victory propels Tomljanovic into a second-round showdown with world No.27 Sorana Cirstea. The Australian owns a positive record against the 31-year-old Romanian, having won both of their previous career meetings.

Thanasi Kokkinakis has continued his impressive resurgence in the men's qualifying singles competition, earning a main draw spot with a 7-6(5) 7-5 victory against Canada's Vasek Pospisil.

The 25-year-old Australian, who recently returned to the world's top 100 for the first time in almost six years, struck 12 aces in the two-hour and 12-minute clash.

Aleksandar Vukic had also been hoping to qualify at the ATP 1000 tournament. However, the 25-year-old Australian's quest ended with a 6-3 6-2 loss to world No.99 Jaume Munar.

Aussie Chris O'Connell also exited in the final round, beaten by Brit Liam Broady 7-6(7) 6-0, while top-seeded John Millman lost a two-hour and 56-minute battle against two-time Australian Open quarterfinalist Tennys Sandgren.

Aussies in action - Indian Wells

TODAY'S RESULTS
Women's singles, first round
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) d [WC] Hailey Baptiste (USA) 6-2 2-6 6-2

Men's qualifying singles, final round
[7] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) d [20] Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 7-6(5) 7-5
[8] Jaume Munar (ESP) d [18] Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 6-3 6-2
[17] Liam Broady (GBR) d Chris O'Connell (AUS) 7-6(7) 6-0
Tennys Sandgren (USA) d [1] John Millman (AUS) 6-7(3) 7-6(8) 7-6(5)

COMING UP
Men's singles, first round
[29] Alex de Minaur (AUS)
v Bye
Alexei Popyrin (AUS)
v [Q] Tomas Machac (CZE)
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v David Goffin (BEL)
[WC] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) v Sebastian Baez (ARG)
[Q] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Sebastian Korda (USA)

Women's singles, first round
[Q] Daria Saville (AUS) v Zhang Shuai (CHN)

Women's singles, second round
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v [26] Sorana Cirstea (ROU)

Men's doubles, first round
[5] John Peers (AUS)/Filip Polasek (SVK) v Marcelo Arevalo (ESA)/Jean-Julien Rojer (NED)
[WC] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)/Nick Kyrgios (AUS) v Ivan Dodig (CRO)/Marcelo Melo (BRA)

Women's doubles, first round
[2] Sam Stosur (AUS)/Zhang Shuai (CHN) v Alize Cornet (FRA)/Leylah Fernandez (CAN)
[8] Storm Sanders (AUS)/Caroline Dolehide (USA) v Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR)/Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)/Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Petra Martic (CRO)/Shelby Rogers (USA)

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