IT was a great day for United States fans at the 2020 Indian Wells WTA Tour’s fantasy tournament, with five of the seven representatives making it through to the Round of 64. Venus Williams, Bernada Pera, Jennifer Brady, Jessica Pegula and Lauren Davis all booted spots in the next round, with only Christina McHale and Sloane Stephens falling during the opening day’s play.

Williams triumphed over Canadian talent, Leylah Fernandez who earned a wildcard at the event, but went down to the multiple Grand Slam winner, 6-1 6-3. Pera knocked off Frenchwoman Alize Cornet in a come-from-behind 2-6 6-3 6-3 win, as did Davis who doubled up on the French pain with a 3-6 6-4 6-3 upset win over Caroline Garcia. Meanwhile Brady also moved through to the Round of 64 with a win over Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, 6-4 6-2. The final triumph from the American perspective was Pegula’s victory over Australian, Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6 6-7 6-4 in three hours and two minutes making it the longest match of the day, and tournament so far.

The most surprising result of the day was Anna Blinkova‘s come-from-behind win over Russian compatriot Anastasia Potapova. It was not the result itself that was the surprise, but more the turnaround after being a set down. Blinkova faced a 6-3 deficit after the first set, but somehow strung together 12 consecutive games to go on a tear and win 3-6 6-0 6-0 in two hours flat. Japan’s Nao Hibino got through to the Round of 64 courtesy of a 7-6 6-4 triumph over American, McHale as Stephens’ rough 2020 form also continued going down in three sets to Polona Hercog of Slovenia.

Among the other day two winners were Italian Camila Giorgi, Poland’s Magna Linette, Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas, Great Britain’s Heather Watson, France’s Kristina Mladenovic, Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova and Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro.

On day three tomorrow the seeds enter the fray, as the likes of Serena Williams, Karolina Pliskova and Naomi Osaka are on show. The match of the day could well be Coco Gauff taking on compatriot Alison Riske in a repeat of the 2020 Australian Open fourth round clash.

ROUND OF 128 RESULTS:

Magna Linette (POL) defeated Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 6-4 6-7 7-6
Camila Giorgi (ITA) defeated Misaki Doi (JPN) 3-6 6-3 6-3
Anna Blinkova (RUS) defeated Anastasia Potapova (RUS) 3-6 6-0 6-0
Polona Hercog (SLO) defeated Sloane Stephens (USA) 4-6 7-6 6-1
Venus Williams (USA) defeated [WC] Leylah Fernandez (CAN) 6-1 6-3
Zarina Diyas (KAZ) defeated Paula Badosa (ESP) 7-6 6-3
Heather Watson (GBR) defeated Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) 6-3 6-2
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) defeated Su-Wei Hsieh (TAI) 6-7 6-3 6-2
Lin Zhu (CHN) defeated Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) 6-3 6-4
Jessica Pegula (USA) defeated Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 7-6 6-7 6-4
Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) defeated Ons Jabeur (TUN) 6-1 6-7 6-1
Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) defeated Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-7 7-6 6-1
Bernada Pera (USA) defeated Alize Cornet (FRA) 2-6 6-3 6-3
Jennifer Brady (USA) defeated Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 6-4 6-2
Lauren Davis (USA) defeated Caroline Garcia (FRA) 3-6 6-4 6-3
Nao Hibino (JPN) defeated Christina McHale (USA) 7-6 6-4