Indian Wells: Heather Watson and Katie Boulter defeated in round-one matches
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Watson looked competitive in the opening set but lost a key fifth game
Britons Heather Watson and Katie Boulter fell to straight-set defeats in the first round at Indian Wells.
World number 113 Watson, 29, battled early in set one but failed to take two break points at 2-2 and Czech Tereza Martincova pushed on to a 6-2 6-1 win.
Boulter, 25, was broken three times in her opening set against Italy's Jasmine Paolini and lost 6-3 6-2.
British interest in the tournament rests on Heather Dart and Emma Raducanu, who are both into round two.
However, British qualifiers Watson and Boulter both struggled to gain a footing in testing contests played out in blustery conditions in California.
Martincova simply proved too strong for Watson, winning 62.8% of points on her first serve, compared to the 43.3% achieved by her rival.
The 27-year-old - who is world number 42 - will now play defending champion Paula Badosa of Spain.
Paolini took all five of her break points on the day and eased to victory, despite giving up her own serve twice in the opening set.
The world number 46 will now face second seed Aryna Sabalenka in round two.
Osaka and Kyrgios through to second round
Naomi Osaka's first WTA title was at Indian Wells in 2018
Former world number one Naomi Osaka fought back from a set down to beat American Sloane Stephens in a high-profile first-round match between two former major winners.
Osaka, playing her first tournament since a third-round exit at the Australian Open, was a break down at 0-2 in the third set and saved three break points in the third game.
That triggered a momentum shift, with Osaka claiming six games in a row to seal a 3-6 6-1 6-2 victory over the 2017 US Open champion.
The Japanese four-time major winner will now play Russian 21st seed Veronika Kudermetova in round two.
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk saved two match points in an emotional 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 win over Ukraine-born Belgian Maryna Zanevska.
Kostyuk, who plays Belgium's Elise Mertens next, considered pulling out of the tournament because of the concern she was feeling about the Russian invasion of her homeland.
"When I woke up this morning I thought, 'I'm not going to do it, I can't win it,'" she said. "I just tried to find a way.
"My main goal was to fight and I fought. Everyone is fighting how they fight. My job is playing tennis and this is the biggest way I can help in the current situation."
In the men's draw, Australia's Nick Kyrgios made light work of Sebastian Baez of Argentina to reach the second round.
Kyrgios, playing his first tournament since winning the Australian Open doubles title, needed just an hour and 12 minutes to secure a 6-4 6-0 victory.
He will play another Argentine, 32nd seed Federico Delbonis, in round two.
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