Second Round Awards: Swiss Showdown Wins WTA Best Match; Wawrinka, Kenin Impress

With the second round of the BNP Paribas Open promotion completed, we look back at some of the highlights with our Baseline Awards. Look at her! ⬇️

ATP Best Game

🏅 [4] Taylor Fritz d. Ben Shelton

It was a match that lived up to its hype: American tennis’s present vs. its future. Fritz was able to fend off a stern challenge from Ben Shelton’s big left play, which, while effective for most of two sets, showed the 20-year-old ace still has some more work to do before he’s capable of hitting the highs to achieve Fritz did last year.

For his part, Fritz showed exactly why he managed to crack the top 10, demonstrating maturity in his play under pressure and the solid baseline that earned him the BNP Paribas Open title a year ago.

Best WTA Match

🏅 Jil Teichmann d. [9] Belinda Bencic – 3-6, 6-3, 6-3

It was arguably the worst birthday present Tiechmann could give her good friend and compatriot Bencic – a comeback win in a high-quality, nearly three-hour bout at one of the biggest tournaments in the world. Nonetheless, the two Swiss misses put on a show for Stadion 1, with Bencic spoiling the fans with her brilliant two-handed backhand and Teichmann proving that rankings don’t always reflect quality.

There had to be a winner 🫂🇨🇭@Jilteichmann defeats doubles partner and No.9 seed Bencic to reach Indian Wells third round for the first time!#tennisparadise pic.twitter.com/P9UT7PBN0H

— wta (@WTA) March 10, 2023

Biggest excitement

🏅 Jordan Thompson d. [2] Stefanos Tsitsipas – 7-6 (0), 4-6, 7-6 (5)

Tsitsipas was open to the press about not feeling 100% fit ahead of this year’s tournament, but he still put up a damn good fight. Thompson was undeniable, however, and always seemed confident he would be able to claim the win – his second win over a top-10 player – and thus blow the bottom of the men’s singles draw towards the air bust .

Biggest Eruption

🏅 Marketa Vondrousova d. [28] Marie Bouzkova – 6-1, 6-1

Attention players – Vondrousova is in top form and is (once again) playing her best tennis in the desert. She made it through the second week of this event three times in four missions, defeating some pretty impressive players in the process. Against Bouzkova, she weaved her web of left turns and surprise drop shots to reach 28th seed with just a two-game loss.

Best point

🏅 Iga Swiatek nails cross-court pass to win a ridiculous save.

headline says it all. Check it out here. 🤯

Best Colon

🏅 John Isner wins double thriller with incredible forehand winner

Shout out to defending champions John Isner and Jack Sock for this absolutely insane winner to cap off an exciting win in their tournament opener.

SCENE

🤯 @JohnIsner @JackSock92 #tennisparadise pic.twitter.com/xCxYlEQ5Qy

– Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 11, 2023

ATP most impressive performance

🏅 Stan Wawrinka [d. Kecmanovic – 7-6(10), 6-4]

Wawrinka continues to prove that age is just a number and years of injury plagues are a thing of the past. The three-time Grand Slam champion and his superb one-handed backhand beat Sunshine Swing specialist Miomir Kecmanovic in two close sets, including an impressive 22-point tiebreak that got the Stadium 6 crowd on their toes.

winning moment of @stanwawrinka Reaching the third round in the desert after a very good win and a solid match.

The crowd support made it even more special ❤️

(🎥 Credit: batzis_sportsworld IG) #BNPPO23 #tennisparadise #Mission #Dedication #Trust the process pic.twitter.com/oy4Bp9kXMk

— Lisa #RFever ❤️ (@lisa_wawrinka) March 12, 2023

WTA Most Impressive Performance

🏅Sofia Kenin [l. to Rybakina – 6-7(6), 6-7(5)]

Wildcard competitor Sofia Kenin may not have beaten Elena Rybakina, but she showed a high standard of tennis in two tiebreak sets against one of the most in-form players of the season. The American, who has struggled with a myriad of physical issues since her breakthrough in 2021, moved well, hit hard and even pulled out some of her signature drop shots to bring the reigning Wimbledon champion to the brink before she said goodbye.

Well done.