Caroline Wozniacki Out-Duels Kaia Kanepi, Advances at Indian Wells

It was a much different morning for Caroline Wozniacki in California. Facing 18th-seeded Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, she overcame a late letdown to advance 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Starting up play at Indian Wells again at 11 a.m., Wozniacki looked like she would dispose of Kanepi just as quickly as she defeated Timea Bacsinszky in the second round. In a mere 28-minute first set, Caroline served to an unreal clip of 92 percent first serve and three aces.

She also made extremely quick work with break point chances, converting two of two chances. By the time Kanepi finally held serve, she was already down 4-1 in the set.

Wozniackl put an exclamation point at the end of the set, firing her third ace at set point.

The second set would be a different story. Kanepi began the set with two painful double faults, setting up yet another break for Wozniacki. Caroline held easily for a 2-0 lead. Kanepi, serving poorly yet again, struggled through another service game, but managed to hold.

Wozniacki now falls under the poor serving syndrome. She manages to fight off double break point with excellent ground strokes for an uneasy hold. Kanepi gains a little momentum and holds easily, then earns a gigantic break to tie the set at three.

It was all Kanepi afterwards, as she took the final four games and the set.

Caroline looks as though she has lost a good bit of confidence. Her first serve, which has been extremely strong thus far in the tournament, has betrayed her. She began the third set with two double faults of her own, handing Kanepi an early advantage.

Kanepi however, handed the break right back with awful serving. Caroline got her confidence back and with it, she did not drop a service game the remainder of the match.

The turning point of the set came with Kanepi serving at 2-3. Wozniacki fought back in the game to earn a gigantic break, and then had a monster hold for 5-2.

She would end up serving for the match, and again fought off double break point to earn the game, set, and match.

WOZNIACKI MATCH STATS

• Aces: 4
• Double Faults: 2
• First Serve: 73%
• First Serve Points Won: 42/66 (64%)
• Second Serve Points Won: 10/25 (40%)
• Break Points Saved: 6/10 (60%)
• Break Points Won: 5/9 (56%)
• Service Games Played: 14
• Return Games Played: 13
• Total Points Won: 85/166 (51%)

Caroline will face the winner of a wild card brawl between American Alexa Glatch and Pole Urszula Radwanska.