WTA Indian Wells Round-Up Day Two | Parry ends Venus Williams comeback as Siniakova rallies past Kenin

The opening day of first-round action at the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells featured several momentum swings and notable performances across the women’s draw. Diane Parry ended Venus Williams’ comeback bid in three sets, while Katerina Siniakova overturned a strong start from Sofia Kenin. Elsewhere, Storm Hunter produced a comeback win against Magdalena Frech and Donna Vekic edged a tight battle against teenager Tereza Valentova.

The early rounds in Indian Wells often combine experienced players returning to competition with emerging names looking for breakthroughs. Williams’ return at age 45 drew attention in Tennis Paradise, while Kenin sought consistency after an uneven run of results. The day also featured Jennifer Brady’s long-awaited return to WTA main-draw competition, alongside several tightly contested matches that reshaped the early draw.

Diane Parry advanced to the second round after defeating Venus Williams 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 in a match that featured several shifts in momentum before the Frenchwoman asserted control in the deciding set.

Parry started strongly, securing the decisive break of the opening set in the sixth game. Both players held comfortably on serve early on, but a brief lapse from Williams allowed the French qualifier to move ahead. Parry then managed the remainder of the set effectively, protecting the advantage and closing it out 6-3.

The second set was far less consistent in quality, with both players struggling to generate sustained pressure on return. Service games dominated the set, and neither player created a clear separation. Williams eventually pushed the contest into a tie-break, where Parry’s nerves showed through several unforced errors. The American capitalised to level the match and send it into a deciding set.

In the final set, Parry quickly regained control. After the players split the opening games, the Frenchwoman began dictating from the baseline and repeatedly pressured Williams’ serve. She won five consecutive games to close the match, finishing with nine aces and winning 75% of points behind her first serve.

Parry now advances to the second round, where she will face 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys.

Katerina Siniakova produced one of the most dramatic turnarounds of the session, defeating Sofia Kenin 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 after recovering from a set and a break down.

Kenin initially appeared in full control. The former Australian Open champion raced through the opening set, taking advantage of Siniakova’s errors to secure two early breaks and a commanding 6-1 lead. Her aggressive returning repeatedly put the Czech under pressure during the early stages.

The American remained ahead when she moved to a 6-1, 4-2 lead in the second set. At that point, however, the momentum shifted. Siniakova improved her first-serve effectiveness and began extending rallies, forcing Kenin into longer exchanges.

The Czech broke back before claiming another break late in the set to force a decider. In the third set, Kenin’s level dropped while Siniakova continued to build momentum. The Czech dominated the closing stretch, winning 10 of the last 11 games overall.

Siniakova converted two of four break opportunities in the deciding set and consistently targeted Kenin’s second serve. The victory sends her into the second round where she will face 27th seed Leylah Fernandez.

Storm Hunter produced an impressive comeback to defeat world No. 36 Magdalena Frech 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 and secure a place in the second round. Frech began the match strongly, establishing early control in the opening set. The Polish player secured a break and relied on solid serving to maintain the advantage. She saved several break points before closing out the set 6-3 after 50 minutes.

Hunter gradually improved during the second set. The Australian remained competitive in extended rallies and began creating more pressure on Frech’s service games. A crucial late break allowed Hunter to take the set 7-5 and force a decider.

Frech briefly regained the initiative in the third set with an early break. However, Hunter responded quickly and shifted momentum once again. The Australian won five consecutive games to finish the match strongly. Despite facing frequent pressure, Hunter saved nine of twelve break points across the match.

The world No. 234 now advances to face 12th seed Belinda Bencic in the second round.

Donna Vekic needed two tie-breaks to defeat teenager Tereza Valentova 7-6, 7-6 in one of the most tightly contested matches of the session. The Croatian was pushed throughout by the young Czech player, who showed composure despite the difference in experience. Valentova broke early in the opening set, but Vekic recovered to force a tie-break.

In the breaker, Valentova initially moved ahead with a mini-break. However, Vekic finished strongly, winning the final five points to claim the set after more than an hour of play. The second set followed a similar pattern, with both players holding serve consistently. Neither player managed to create a decisive break opportunity, leading to another tie-break.

Vekic once again proved more reliable in the key moments. Her serve remained effective throughout the match, finishing with nine aces while saving six of eight break points. After two hours and 41 minutes, the Croatian sealed the victory and advanced to the second round. She will next face fifth seed Jessica Pegula.

Antonia Ruzic produced a strong comeback to defeat Jennifer Brady 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in Brady’s first WTA main-draw appearance since Beijing 2023. The American started the match confidently, using her serve to control the tempo and secure the opening set. A single break in the sixth game proved decisive as the former Australian Open finalist moved ahead 6-3.

The former world No. 13 continued that momentum early in the second set, extending her lead to 3-1 with a break advantage. However, she struggled to maintain that level as the match progressed.

From that moment, Ruzic shifted control of the contest. The Croatian began dictating more rallies and took advantage of a dip in Brady’s consistency. She won 11 of the final 14 games of the match, including four consecutive breaks.

Despite the defeat, Brady showed flashes of the level that once carried her to the 2021 Australian Open final, though she appeared short of match rhythm after her extended absence from the tour.Ruzic advances to the second round and she will play against 24th seed Zheng Qinwen.