3 quick takes from Friday, March 6 at BNP Paribas Open
· Yahoo Sports
Friday was the first day of play for seeded players at the BNP Paribas Open, and these were the three biggest stories:
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The world's No. 1 women's player, Aryna Sabalenka, didn't take long to dismiss qualifier Himeno Sakatsume 6-4, 6-2 on Friday and during the match her now-famous 12 karat engagement ring.
Sabalenka got engaged to boyfriend Georgios Frangulis on March 3 at a private residence in Indian Wells or the surrounding area, and said that she inquired about whether the diamond could be damaged or fall off the ring while playing tennis before she wore it on the court.
"We double-checked if there is a possibility to lose the diamond, and there is none," she said, "So, I was pretty confident wearing this ring, and it feels comfy, feels shiny."
Young rising stars shine
Southern California native Learner Tien, 20, won a main draw match for the first time at the BNP Paribas Open, with a 7-6(3), 7-6(8) win over unseeded Adam Walton of Australia. Emma Raducanu, 23, won her first match of the draw, 6-1, 6-3, over qualifier Anastasia Zakharova of Russia. And 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko won her match, 6-4, 7-6(5) over Australian Kimberly Birrell. It was Mboko's first match ever at Indian Wells.
All three are among the top young stars playing in the tournament, and they have had a lot of fan interest in their matches.
Anisimova avoids seismic upset
In the nightcap slot on Stadium Court, sixth-seeded Amanda Anisimova came from down 5-2 in the first set to win the next 15 of 18 games to win the second and third sets and advance, 5-7, 6-1, 6-0.
Had Anisimova lost to Anna Blinkova of Russia, it would have been a major upset and a huge blow to the American women, who have not had a title winner since 2001.
Anisimova has reached at least the quarterfinal in each of her last three Grand Slams, including reaching the finals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year.
Next up for Anisimova is an intriguing matchup against former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 3 quick takes from Friday, March 6 at BNP Paribas Open