Main-draw action kicked-off with first-round matches at the 2017 BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday. As usual, loads of fans roamed the tournament site, but the day didn’t go particularly well for American players, especially out Stadium 1.
The crowd was almost in for quite an upset win as young talent CiCi Bellis came close to beating Kirsten Flipkens, but the Belgian’s experience made the difference in the third set. Bellis’ eventual loss was preceded by Nicole Gibbs losing to Heather Watson and Christina McHale getting eliminated by Evgynia Rodina in the evening, completing a somewhat disappointing day for Ameircan players.
Out in Stadium 2, fans could see the all-new Belinda Bencic win her first match of the 2017 season. A lot has been changing for the Swiss talent, who recently dropped out of the Top 100 due to injury. Sporting blonde hair now and being paired up with Polish coach Maciej Synowka, Bencic freshly-inked a new apparal contract with Nike, wearing the Maria Sharapova line in Indian Wells.
Keep checking back for much more from Indian Wells all week long and visit our photo galleries from previous days:
- Tuesday: Qualifying action completes, the main draw is set
- Monday: Qualifying kicks off
- Sunday: Warming up for the tournament
Belinda looks great in Nike. I think this is the Maria collection.
The best young American won and beat a higher ranked player than the one who beat CiCi.
Kayla Day is better than CiCi and a year younger.