Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff advance in Indian Wells - ESPN

10.03.2024 - 02:55 espn.com

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Novak Djokovic made a winning return to the desert, beating Aleksandar Vukic 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 on Saturday in his first match at the BNP Paribas Open in five years.

The 24-time Grand Slam singles champion joined Rafael Nadal as the only players to win 400 matches in ATP Masters 1000 series events.

The top-ranked Djokovic is a five-time champion at Indian Wells, tied with Roger Federer for most by a male, but hadn't played in the event since 2019.

Coco Gauff also won — barely — rallying just in time to avoid an early exit by edging Clara Burel 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). The US Open women's champion trailed 4-0 and then 5-2 in the third set of her opening match in the tournament, leaving her a game away from becoming the second top American upset by Burel this year.

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World number three Coco Gauff said it would not be easy to shrug off Monday's Miami Open defeat by Caroline Garcia but the former Roland Garros runner-up is setting her sights on the claycourt season and the year's second Grand Slam.

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Emma Navarro Stuns Aryna Sabalenka At Indian Wells As Coco Gauff, Daniil Medvedev Advance

American Emma Navarro shocked Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals on Wednesday as Coco Gauff sailed through. Navarro, ranked 23rd in the world, pushed Sabalenka hard on a breezy Stadium Court to notch her first career win over a top-five player 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. US Open champion Gauff, seeded third, celebrated her 20th birthday with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 victory over Belgian Elise Mertens. It wasn't quite so easy for last year's men's runner-up Daniil Medvedev, but the fourth-seeded Russian managed the windy conditions to post a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

Emma Navarro downs world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka in Indian Wells

Emma Navarro continued her breakthrough season with a 6-3 3-6 6-2 win over Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka to reach the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals in Indian Wells.