BNP Paribas Open: Halep, Radwanska knocked out as Kerber battles through
Simona Halep and Agnieszka Radwanska suffered surprise losses at the BNP Paribas Open as Angelique Kerber fought through.
Halep, the 2015 champion, wasted chances in a loss to Kristina Mladenovic at Indian Wells on Monday.
Radwanska, seeded sixth and runner-up in 2014 at the WTA Premier event, was also comfortably beaten, going down to qualifier Peng Shuai.
Kerber, who will reclaim the top ranking next week, battled through, joined in the last 16 by Venus Williams, Madison Keys and Caroline Wozniacki.
HALEP EXITS
Halep suffered a third loss in four meetings against Mladenovic, beaten 6-3 6-3 by the French 28th seed.
Mladenovic broke three times in each set as Halep was punished for her missed chances, converting just three of 22 break points.
.@KikiMladenovic knocks out 2015 @BNPPARIBASOPEN champ Halep!
Wins 6-3, 6-3 to set up @LaurenDavis93 clash! pic.twitter.com/2VvoZaaKyv
— WTA (@WTA) March 13, 2017
Halep won 50 return points compared to Mladenovic’s 29, yet bowed out in one hour, 42 minutes.
RADWANSKA NO MATCH FOR PENG
A qualifier, Peng continued her run with a 6-4 6-4 win over Radwanska.
Peng Shuai upsets Radwanska 6-4, 6-4 to reach @BNPPARIBASOPEN Round of 16!
First top 10 win since 2014! pic.twitter.com/XJr6P6eADq
— WTA (@WTA) March 14, 2017
There were 10 breaks of serve throughout the third-round match, but Peng came away a deserved victor.
KERBER SURVIVES
Kerber needed more than two and a half hours to get past Pauline Parmentier 7-5 3-6 7-5.
The German was forced into a huge battle by Parmentier, coming from 4-1 down in the final set to progress.
SEEDS OTHERWISE TOO GOOD
Also advancing to the fourth round were Williams, Keys and Wozniacki.
Williams remains on track for her 50th WTA Tour title after beating Lucie Safarova 6-4 6-2.
Keys did it easily against Naomi Osaka 6-1 6-4 and Wozniacki cruised past Katerina Siniakova 6-3 6-1.
.@CaroWozniacki cruises past Siniakova 6-3, 6-1!
Plays @Madison_Keys next in @BNPParibasOpen Round of 16! #BNPPO17pic.twitter.com/1ZIFXIFoIg
— WTA (@WTA) March 14, 2017
Elena Vesnina overcame Timea Babos 6-4 1-6 6-4, while Lauren Davis was too good for Julia Goerges 6-1 6-4 in a clash between two unseeded players.
