• BNP Paribas Open

Baltacha scrapes through first qualifier

ESPN staff
March 8, 2010
Elena Baltacha had to fight hard to win a match she was expected to dominate © Getty Images
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Elena Baltacha took all of three sets to come through her first qualifying match at the BNP Paribas Open in California against an opponent ranked 500 places below her.

Baltacha went a set down before recovering to edge out Julia Boserup of the USA 2-6 6-4 6-4 to progress to the second and final qualifying match on Tuesday, which she'll need to win to be one of 12 qualifiers in the 96-player, star-studded draw at Indian Wells.

Having fought back to clinch the second set in a match featuring ten breaks of serve, the final set was poised at 4-4 when Baltacha made the timeliest of breakthroughs, taking Boserup's service game for the fifth time and serving it out 6-4.

Baltacha is among the highest-ranked players, at No. 65, coming through the qualifiers, while Boserup, at No. 565, wasn't expected to present this much of a challenge.

The main women's draw features Jelena Jankovic, Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka as part of a field containing 17 of the top 20 players.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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