INDIAN WELLS – Two-time champ Kim Clijsters pulled out of Indian Wells in mid-match with shoulder problems, adding to the growing list of top-seed casualties among the women Tuesday. Defending champion Jelena Jankovic and reigning French Open champ Francesca Schiavone were also bounced in the fourth round, leaving just three of the top 10 seeds left 4.5 million dollar WTA Indian Wells hardcourt tournament.
Top ranked Caroline Wozniacki did manage to sneak through, but even she had her work cut out for her as the Dane lost the first set before rallying to beat Alisa Kleybanova of Russia 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals. Second seed Clijsters retired from her fourth round match in the middle of the second set with a right shoulder injury, gifting the victory to France’s Marion Bartoli. Clijsters won the first set 6-3 but then called for the trainer early in the second set before packing it in 24 minutes in with Bartoli leading 3-1.
Wozniacki moves on to the quarter-finals, where she will face eighth seeded Victoria Azarenka, who beat Agnieszka Radawanska of Poland 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). The sixth-seeded Jankovic lost 6-4, 6-2 to fellow Serb Ana Ivanovic. Ivanovic, who won the title here in 2008, advances to the quarter-finals where she plays Bartoli. China’s Peng Shuai, who missed much of 2010 with injuries, defeated Russian Nadia Petrova 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.
She advances to the quarters where she will face Russian Maria Sharapova who beat Dinara Safina 6-2, 6-0 in a battle of former world number ones. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic extended his match win streak to 16 and Roger Federer barely broke a sweat Tuesday as they powered their way into the fourth round with straight-set wins. Djokovic capped his 6-0, 6-1 demolition of Ernests Gulbis with back-to-back aces and Federer had an equally easy time ousting Juan Ignacio Chela 6-0, 6-2 in the WTA and ATP Masters Series 1000 tournament.
Federer will play 18-year-old Ryan Harrison of the US who held on to beat Canadian wildcard Milos Raonic 7-6 (7/1), 4-6, 6-4. In other men’s matches Tuesday, former US Open champion Andy Roddick defeated fellow American John Isner 7-5, 6-2, Czech Tomas Berdych beat Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil 6-3, 6-2, Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka defeated Marin Cilic 7-5, 6-3 and Richard Gasquet surprised 10th seed Jurgen Melzer of Germany 6-1, 6-3.
