The struggles for 2021 tournament champion Paula Badosa persisted as she faced a back injury, forcing her withdrawal from the opening match against fellow wild card Ashlyn Krueger at the WTA Indian Wells Masters on Wednesday. Badosa, ranked 73rd, has been plagued by the injury since Wimbledon last season, leading to her absence from competitive play.
Lucky loser Nadia Podoroska will now step in to replace Badosa in the tournament. Badosa's withdrawal marks a setback for the Spanish player who had to skip competitions due to her ongoing back issues, hindering her ability to compete on the tennis circuit.
Meanwhile, former finalist and tennis mother Angelique Kerber, aged 36, secured a second-round match at Indian Wells after defeating Petra Martic 6-3, 6-4. Kerber, with three Grand Slam titles, overcame her first top 100 opponent since returning from maternity leave.
Her victory sets up a clash with 2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko. However, the British player Katie Boulter, coming off a WTA 500 San Diego title win, faced an early exit in the first round, losing 6-3, 6-2 to Italian Camila Giorgi.
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