Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus returns a shot to Jasmine Paolini of Italy during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 12, 2022 in Indian Wells, California. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
Second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus was ousted from the second round of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday by Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 at Indian Wells, Calif.
Paolini, the 46th-ranked player in the world, withstood eight aces and took advantage of 10 double faults by Sabalenka in a match that lasted one hour, 47 minutes.
It was the first top 10 victory of Paolini’s career.
Jasmine Paolini of Italy celebrates while playing Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 12, 2022 in Indian Wells, California. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
“I’m really happy,” Paolini said in her post-match press conference. “I played an amazing match. I tried to be there, to be focused every point. Yeah, I’m so happy I beat Sabalenka. She’s a great player.”
Russian Veronika Kudermetova needed just one hour, 17 minutes to defeat former World No. 1 and Indian Wells champion Naomi Osaka of Japan 6-0, 6-4. Osaka won just 56.5 percent of her first serves in the loss.
Fourth-seeded Anna Kontaveit of Estonia made quick work of Kristina Kucova of the Slovak Republic 6-4, 6-1 in 65 minutes.
Fifth-seeded Paula Badosa of Spain was a 6-2, 7-6 (4) winner over Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic.
Sixth-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece was a 6-3, 7-5 winner over Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic.
Ninth-seeded Ons Jabeur of Tunisia was also upset, losing to Australia’s Daria Saville 7-5, 6-7 (0), 6-4.
Shelby Rogers eliminated another seeded player, dispatching No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 7-5, 7-6 (7).
No. 16 Cori Gauff defeated fellow American Claire Liu 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Saturday’s other winners included No. 14 Jessica Pegula, No. 18 Leyla Fernandez, No. 13 Victoria Azarenka, Sara Sorribes Tormo, Elena Rybakina, Viktorija Golubic, Petra Kvitova, Elise Mertens, Marketa Vondrousova, Madison Keys, Angelique Kerber and Belinda Bencic.