WTA: Julia Görges starts confidently in Indian Wells

Julia Görges (Bad Oldesloe) has entered the third round of the prestigious WTA tournament in Indian Wells, California. In the first match after a hip injury suffered in mid-February, the number twelve seeded Goerges defeated Natalja Vikhlyantseva of Russia 6-4,6-1.

Her next opponent is the winner of the duel between Olympic champion Monica Puig (Puerto Rico) and Anastasija Sevastova (Latvia/No. 21). Görges has a 4:2 record against Latvian player Görges, and Puig has only won one of five games against the Germans.

In the round of 16, Görges could then face 23-times Grand Slam winner Serena Williams (USA), who made her comeback on the WTA tour after her baby break in Indian Wells. Williams will play Dutch player Kiki Bertens in round two.

Mona Barthel (Neumünster) was eliminated in the second round. The 27-year-old Elina Svitolina (Ukraine), who finished fourth in the world rankings, was defeated 4-6,3-6 on Saturday. Madison Keys is also no longer in the game: the US open-ended finalist surprisingly lost to Danielle Collins in two sets.

Afterwards Angelique Kerber (Kiel/No. 10) fights Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) for the advancement.

Here the single tableau of the ladies in Indian Wells