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Andrea Petkovic advances in Indian Wells over ailing Vania King

By The Sports Xchange
Andrea Petkovic of Germany advanced to the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., on Thursday when Vania King of the United States retired due to a left ankle injury. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI
Andrea Petkovic of Germany advanced to the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., on Thursday when Vania King of the United States retired due to a left ankle injury. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

March 10 Andrea Petkovic of Germany advanced to the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., on Thursday when Vania King of the United States retired due to a left ankle injury.

Petkovic, a former world No. 9, meets countrywoman and No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber in Friday's second round. She was leading King 6-0, 2-0 before King was forced to stop.

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Kerber is the highest remaining seed after No. 1 Serena Williams withdrew Wednesday because of a knee injury.

"That's definitely not how I want to win a match," Petkovic said during her on-court interview. "I just hope Vania gets better, she's such a great girl and obviously she couldn't perform at her best, which is unfortunate.

"But up until then I was actually happy with my performance. I guess I just have to focus on those few games we played and go to the practice court and hit more balls."

Kerber, who will regain her No. 1 ranking at the conclusion of the tournament, is 7-3 versus Petkovic.

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In other first-round matches, former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia ousted Irina Falconi of the United States 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Also, Shelby Rogers defeated Jennifer Brady 6-4, 7-6 (4) in a matchup of Americans. Lauren Davis of the USA topped Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, while Germany's Annika Beck defeated Canada's Eugenie Borchard 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Four qualifiers -- Spain's Magda Linette and Sara Sorribes Tormo, Colombia's Mariana Duque-Marino and American Varvara Lepchenko -- won their opening-round matches.

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