Success for returning mothers as Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber all reach Round Three at Indian Wells
WTA
Successful
comeback at Indian Wells for recent mothers Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki,
Elina Svitolina, and Angelique Kerber. One of the intriguing factors this year
is the return of several prominent players after breaks due to pregnancy, and
all of them managed to advance to the third round.
The four players
entered the tournament with past success at Tennis Paradise but had to prove
themselves on the court after some time away from the tour.
Comebacks in 2024
The most
recent comebacks have been from Osaka (No. 287) and Kerber (No. 607), both
returning to the Tour at the beginning of 2024. With only a few tournaments
under their belts, they arrived in California and have showcased a high level
of play. The Japanese player, the 2018 champion (victory over Daria Kasatkina),
navigated through her early rounds against Sara Errani (No. 100) and the 14th
seed Liudmila Samsonova, securing her second win over a top-15 player this
year.
A similar
story is unfolding for Kerber, absent throughout 2023, who has already
eliminated Petra Martic (No. 58) and the 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko from the
tournament. The German reached the final in 2019 but fell to Bianca Andreescu.
Wozniacki and Svitolina with more tournaments since their comeback
The former
world No. 1 has always felt comfortable in her appearances at Indian Wells. The
Dane was the champion in 2011 after defeating Marion Bartoli and reached two
more finals in 2010 and 2013, finishing as the runner-up to Jelena Jankovic and
Maria Sharapova, respectively. Wozniacki (No. 204) played three tournaments in
2023 during the US hardcourt swing with impressive performances.
However,
this is her first time at Tennis Paradise since 2019, and she has already
secured consecutive victories against Zhu Lin (No. 62) and the 25th seed Donna
Vekic.
As for
Svitolina, she has spent more time back on the Tour than her counterparts. The
Ukrainian returned during the clay season of 2023 and delivered strong
performances in a few tournaments, including reaching the semifinals at
Wimbledon. She entered Indian Wells as the 16th seed. After skipping the first
round, she defeated Katerina Siniakova (No. 41) in her debut and faces a tough
challenge against Emma Navarro (No. 23) for a spot in the fourth round.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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