Men’s Singles Qualifying Play Set For Today at BNP Paribas Open
Women’s singles qualifying play for the 2014 BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament concludes today at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden with the 12 winners receiving spots in the main draw, while men’s singles qualifying play begins with 24 matches.
Two Americans remain in the women’s qualifying field.
Allie Kiick, an 18-year-old from Aspen, Colo. whose father Jim was a running back on the Miami Dolphins’ undefeated 1972 team, will face Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain after defeating Mandy Minella of Luxemburg, 6-3, 6-0.
Madison Brengle, a 23-year-old from Dover, Del., will face Camila Giorgi of Italy. Brengle defeated Romina Oprandi of Switzerland, 6-4, 6-1, Monday.
The two other Americans in the original field of 48 both lost Monday.
Grace Min, a 19-year-old from Lawrenceville, Ga., lost 7-6 (4), 6-3 to Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic, who at 65th is the highest ranked player in the qualifying draw.
Irina Falconi, a 23-year-old from Atlanta, lost to Giorgi, 6-1, 6-1.
All four Americans received wild card spots into the 48-player qualifying draw because they were ranked too low to play in qualifying.
Other players set to play today include 43-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan, who reached the third round of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon last year, Nadiya Kichenok and Maryna Zanevska from Ukraine and AllaKudryatseva of Russia. A second Russian, Vera Dushevina, lost Monday.
The 48-player men’s qualifying draw consists of players from 26 nations, including 14 Americans, seeking 12 berths in the 96-player main draw. Players winning twice in qualifying will advance to the main draw.
Somdev Devvarman of India is the highest ranked player in the men’s singles qualifying. He is 78th on the Association of Tennis professional rankings. Devvarman, who won the NCAA Division I men’s singles championship in 2007 and 2008 while playing for the University of Virginia, will face Daniel Munoz-De La Nava of Spain at 11 a.m.
Admission is free.
Women’s main draw play is set to begin Wednesday and men’s main draw play Thursday.
