Sabalenka escapes Stearns to reach Indian Wells third round

INDIAN WELLS, California :Aryna Sabalenka saved four match points in the third set and needed four match points of her own in the deciding set tiebreak to overcome American Peyton Stearns 6-7(2) 6-2 7-6(6) in a thrilling second-round clash at Indian Wells on Saturday.

Stearns was on the brink of the biggest win of her career when she led the reigning two-time Australian Open champion 5-4 40-0 in the third set with most of the 16,000 fans packed into Stadium Court behind her.

But the world number two came up with some gutsy returns to stay in the match and, even after appearing to hurt her ankle late in the final set, stayed aggressive in the tiebreak to book a third-round meeting with Emma Raducanu.

"Wow, she's an unbelievable player and she played crazy tennis," Sabalenka said of Stearns.

"At the net she said, 'I had you,' and she's right. I was probably just a little bit lucky to get this win. Super happy to get through this tough match."

Earlier, Coco Gauff overcame a 5-2 third-set deficit against unseeded Frenchwoman Clara Burel to emerge with a hard-fought 2-6 6-3 7-6(4) victory to reach the third round.

Third-seeded Gauff came out tight, spraying errors around the court and double faulting on two break points in a poor first set that Burel wrapped up with an unreturnable serve.

The U.S. Open champion stepped up her serving in the second set and moved into the court to take time away from her opponent, using her speed to race down a drop shot and level the contest at a set apiece.

Burel raced out to a 4-0 lead in the third set, but serving for the match up 5-3, it was 44th-ranked player's turn to tighten up, and Gauff pounced on her short balls and tentative serves.

Gauff kept her foot on the gas in the tiebreaker,