Upsets and near upsets were the order of the day for the women in round two in the BNP Paribas Open on Friday. Just about every match was tightly contested, much to the liking of the overflow crowds.

Australian Open and Brisbane finalist Justine Henin could not overcome dangerous Argentine Gisela Dulko who won a see-saw 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 match. The 31st seed was very much in form, while Henin showed a bit of rust from an extended layoff. The serve was the key in this one as Dulko lost all three of her service games in set two only to come up with a key reversal in set three and upset her idol. Henin had won their only previous meeting.

The day’s biggest upset belonged to Great Britain’s sprightly qualifier, Elena Baltcha, who came all the way back from 1-5 in the third to surprise China’s hot-playing 7 seed Na Li. In a fiery 7-6 (6), 2-6, 7-6 (7) 2 hour 50 minute showdown of ball retrieving extraordinaire, Baltcha outlasted her senior opponent.

The win was Baltcha’s first over a top ten opponent and should push her well above her 65th world ranking. Baltcha now moves on to challenge Australian wild card Alicia Molik, who held off Anabel Medina Garrigues, the 29th seed, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5) in another marathon match. Look for more f the same in the next round.

Russian grunt and groan queen, Maria Sharapova, let her presence be known with a tense victory over a very competitive country mate, Vera Dushevina. Sharapova does not garner the respect she is accustomed to and is viewed as a beatable foe. Dushevina was serving for the match at 5-3, 30-15 in the second before Sharapova found her way and spun off four straight games.

Her 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 2 hour 18 minute win was a good test for Maria, who recently triumphed at Memphis. The long blonde beauty is showing hopeful signs but seems short on championship focus.

Teenager Polona Hercog served notice that she is a star of the future with a solid performance against 11th seeded Marion Bartoli. The French star will next face ageless American Jill Craybas who won by virtue of a Sabine Lisicki retirement in the third set.

Men’s second round action begins today with many of the tour’s heavyweights due to perform.

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