Romania's Begu advances to Indian Wells 125K singles quarter-finals

Romanian tennis player Irina Begu on Thursday progressed to the singles quarter-finals of the 162,480-USD Oracle Challenger Series Indian Wells after defeating Kristie Ahn (USA) 6-3 6-3. Begu, 29, world number 104 prevailed in one hour and 39 minutes, at her first encounter with 27-year-old Ahn, world number 89. In the quarter-finals, the Romanian will play another US player, ninth-seeded 26-year-old Jessica Pegula, world number 78, who progressed after defeating her compatriot Shelby Rogers 7-6 (4) 6-2. Begu and Pegula will face each other for the first time. For her performance so far, Begu won 4,875 US dollars and 29 WTA singles points. AGERPRES (RO-author: Mihai Tenea, editor: Mihai Dragomir; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Rodica State)