• BNP Paribas Open

Azarenka toppled at Indian Wells

Flavia Pennetta collapsed in the third set against Shahar Peer © Getty Images

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Monday Tennis Gallery

Victoria Azarenka was the highest ranked player to fall in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open, with Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez claiming a 7-6(4) 6-2 win over the No. 3 seed.

Azarenka was slow to start and although recovering from 5-1 down in the first set to force a tie-break, she wilted in the second set after losing the breaker.

Kim Clijsters was another big name to fall, the Belgian beaten 4-6 6-1 7-6(4) by Alisa Kleybanova. It was Clijsters' first loss at Indian Wells since 2002 - having won the tournament in 2003 and 2005.

Sixth seed Jelena Jankovic overcame the loss of the first set before battling to a 2-6 7-6(6) 6-4 win over Sara Errani and Carla Suarez Navarro outlasted Agnes Szavay - winning 6-4 3-6 6-1.

Ninth seed Flavia Pennetta was sent crashing out in the third round after losing to Shahar Peer.

World No. 20 Peer, securing her first career victory against her Italian opponent, aided her burgeoning reputation by dominating the third set.

The Israeli won 71% of the points on her opponent's second serve as she recovered in ideal fashion from losing the second.

Eighth seed Samantha Stosur was in commanding form against a below-par Anastasia Pavlychenkova, winning 6-3 6-0. The Russian 25th seed was unable to find any rhythm in her service game - only 43% of her first deliveries were accurate - as her Australian opponent secured five crucial breaks.

Stosur will play Vera Zvonareva in the next round, after the Russian beat Anastasija Sevastova 6-2 6-3, while Yanina Wickmayer won a see-saw clash with Roberta Vinci - edging through 6-1 3-6 6-3.

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