Venus Williams
(March 14, 2017) Venus Williams moved into the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open for the first time since 2001 defeating qualifier Peng Shuai 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, winning the last four straight games. Williams returned to play in Indian Wells last year after refusing to play the tournament for 15 years. She lost in the second round last year.
Williams hit 40 winners with 40 unforced errors during the match.
“Today was final 16,” said Williams. “So advance to the final 8. There are 8 people left. One of us will win. So the odds are getting better.
“I have to focus. It’s not there yet. It’s just, like, getting closer. You know, your mouth starts to water, but it doesn’t mean you’ll get fed. So I have to get it in and try to win.”
“Wasn’t really sure how it was going to turn out today,” she continued. “There were some up-and-downs and errors. It was so frustrating. But I feel like I got my focus more in that second set and towards the end of the third, because — I don’t know. I’m just a competitor. So if things get closer, then I think my better tennis is going to come. Obviously, I don’t want things to get close. I want to try to run away with it.”
Williams will face off against Elena Vesnina who upset No.2 seed Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-3 for a place in the semifinals.
“I think she played good. I was not playing good,” said Kerber about her loss. “It was actually not my day. I was doing a lot of mistakes. I was not moving, actually, good. But it’s happened. I mean, she played from the beginning until the end good tennis, and she was aggressive. So, yeah, she took the game on her hand.”
No. 3 seed Karolina Pliskova moved into the elite 8 when 15th seed Timea Bacsinszky retired from the match trailing 5-1 in the first set.
Pliskova, who reached the semifinals here last year, will take on Garbiñe Muguruza. The Spaniard defeated Elina Svitolina 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-0.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova photo courtesy of Taste of Tennis
No. 19 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova fended off No. 5 Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in a little over two hours to reach her first Indian Wells final eight since 2009.
“I always like to get revenges,” said the Russian to media. The Slovak beat Pavlyuchenkova in Doha a few weeks ago. “Feels amazing, especially we just recently played in Doha and also three-set match. I felt like — I was really disappointed, though, even though it was really good level from the first till the last point.
“I thought I just didn’t convert my chances, and so really happy with the way I finished. I felt kind of good in the third set, as well.”
“The key was to, of course, be aggressive, which is my game, but at the same time, find the balance between being aggressive and not giving her a lot of easy shots, easy points, because she’s great fighter, and she’s always there. I know when she’s down in the score, she’s going for the shots.”
She’ll play countrywoman, No. 8 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova who beat 21st seed Caroline Garcia 6-1, 6-4.
More to follow…