INDIAN WELLS, Calif., March 10 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka rallied in the third set to beat Mona Barthel win a wild match Friday and reach the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.
Azarenka remained unbeaten in 18 matches this season, having won all three tournaments in which she has competed. One of those victories came at the Australian Open, the first major tournament of the season.
Her winning streak appeared likely to end against Barthel when Azarenka suffered an early service break in the third set after having seemingly been in control of the match.
Azarenka wound up winning 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (8-6). She owned a 4-1 lead in the second set before faltering.
Friday was the first day of action for any of the seeded player in this tournament. All 32 seeds received a bye past the opening round.
No. 12 seed Jelena Jankovic did not make it to the third round, falling to Jamie Hampton 6-4, 6-3. No. 22 seed Yanina Wickmayer was also an upset victim, losing to Jarmila Gajdosova 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
No. 9 Vera Zvonareva was a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Kimiko Date-Krumm and No. 14 Julia Goerges defeated Elena Baltacha 6-3, 6-2.
Agnieszka Radwanska, the fifth seed, ousted Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-4.
