Nicole Vaidisova

One of the biggest non-major tournaments began yesterday in California, as the BNP Parisbas Open (formally the Pacific Life Open) at Indian Wells started. Only the women played their first round matches yesterday, and for Nicole Vaidisova, it was a very good start. The Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy alum defeated Michaella Krajicek (who also trains at the NBTA) 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the second round. Vaidisova has had some success here in the past, as she went to the quarterfinals back in 2007 before falling to Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets. Her opponent in round two will be 24th-seeded Alona Bondarenko, whom she is 1-0 against.

This is an excellent sign for Vaidisova that she is perhaps back on the right path. She has struggled for a while now, but hopefully this win will be a sign of things to come. We all know she has the talent to beat the best, she just needs to play consistent tennis and she will find her way back up the rankings. Good luck to Nicole in the second round!

Two other NBTA players took the courts yesterday, but both came up empty-handed. Both Michelle Larcher de Brito and Sabine Lisicki had chances to win their matches, but neither could capitialize. Larcher de Brito lost to Urszula Radwanska 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 and Lisicki was beat by Elena Vesnina 7-6(4), 7-5. Tough losses for both girls, but I am confident they can rebound and make some noise throughout the rest of 2009.