Former world No. 1s Sharapova, Wozniacki win at Indian Wells
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Russian Maria Sharapova and Denmark's round wins Monday at the $5.535 million BNP Paribas Open.
The second-seeded Sharapova moved on with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Romanian Simona Halep at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Sharapova, who titled here in 2006, earned five service breaks, but struggled with her own serve as well, committing five double faults.
Wozniacki, the No. 4 seed, battled back to beat Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Wozniacki beat Marion Bartoli in last year's finale and was the Indian Wells runner-up in 2010.
Ana Ivanovic, the No. 15 seed, handled Russian Ksenia Pervak 6-7 (8-10), 6-3, 6-2. Ivanovic titled here in 2008 and was the runner-up in 2009.
Former top-10 Russian Nadia Petrova posted an upset by outlasting sixth-seeded U.S. Open champ Samantha Stosur 6-1, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-5). The 30th-seeded Petrova pumped out 15 aces in the 2-hour, 46-minute affair.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Stosur was a semifinalist at this event in 2010, marking the only time she advanced past the third round.
A seventh-seeded Bartoli moved on by blasting South African Chanelle Scheepers 6-2, 6-0 in 71 minutes. The former Wimbledon runner-up and 2011 runner-up Bartoli broke Scheepers seven times in seven tries and will now meet Czech Lucie Safarova in the round of 16.
More upsets came when a 23rd-seeded Safarova doused 10th-seeded Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-2, retired, and 21st-seeded Italian Roberta Vinci overcame 16th-seeded Slovak Dominika Cibulkova 6-7 (5-7), 6-0, 6-4. The 2011 French Open runner-up Schiavone gave way to a gastrointestinal illness which has plagued the event here over the last few days.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Schiavone became the latest victim of a widespread viral infection at Indian Wells. At least eight players have already pulled out because of the virus, which local health authorities described as a 48-hour bug transmitted by air and direct contact.
Ninth-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva pulled out before her third-round match on Sunday and 14th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils exited over on the men's side.
Russian glamour girl Maria Kirilenko avoided an upset, as the 20th seed held off Spaniard Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. Kirilenko will battle her fellow countrywoman Petrova in the fourth round.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 2012 Indian Wells champ will collect $1 million.