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World No. 1 Simona Halep was in for a strong challenge against American 19-year-old Caroline Dolehide in Indian Wells. Ultimately pushed to a third set, she faced down the upstart, quite literally at one juncture.

Dolehide let fly a forehand into Halep's midsection to unceremoniously end one point, and the WTA's penthouse dweller wasn't having it. If it went on the stat sheet, it would register as a forced glare.

And at Dolehide's shot selection, somewhere Ivan Lendl clapped heartily.

The tennis Twitterati, however, fully had at it, with the likes of former pros and commentators Chris Evert and Brad Gilbert jawing about it at length. Verbally volleying, if you will.

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I was sitting from the press seats and couldn’t see Halep’s face and I could STILL feel the glare from up there. https://t.co/J6EwnXIafI
— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) March 12, 2018

Yea, I don't blame her!!! https://t.co/6utjb8oZLY
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) March 12, 2018

Totally normal shot and she put her hand 🤚 https://t.co/lOCFlRG6ZK
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) March 12, 2018

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Brad, I'm just saying I would've probably given her a look,too... that's all...👍 https://t.co/rD2sd0UPmz
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) March 12, 2018

At its conclusion, Halep had seized the victory, and that by a 1-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2 count. Even so, Dolehide – in more ways than one – certainly made her mark. She defeated Shelby Rogers and then No. 30 seed Dominika Cibulkova ahead of pushing Halep to something short of the brink. Plan to see her come back wiser and (if you can believe it) even stronger.

Follow Jon on Twitter @jonscott9.

WATCH: Halep stares down Caroline Dolehide

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