Coco Gauff rallied just in time to avoid an early exit from the BNP Paribas Open, edging Clara Burel 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). The U.S. Open women’s champion trailed 4-0 and then 5-2 in her opening match in the tournament, leaving her a game away from becoming the second top American upset by Burel this year. The No. 47-ranked player from France beat No.
Coco Gauff, of the United States, celebrates after defeating Clara Burel, of France, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Indian Wells, Calif. Coco Gauff, of the United States, celebrates after defeating Clara Burel, of France, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Indian Wells, Calif.
The U.S. Open women’s champion trailed 4-0 and then 5-2 in her opening match in the tournament, leaving her a game away from becoming the second top American upset by Burel this year. The No. 47-ranked player from France beat No. 5 Jessica Pegula in the second round of the Australian Open. The third-seeded Gauff advanced to face Lucia Bronzetti in the third round. The Italian knocked off No. 32 Anhelina Kalinina 6-3, 6-4.
Novak Djokovic was in action later Saturday in his first match at Indian Wells since 2019. The 24-time Grand Slam singles champion was bidding to join Rafael Nadal as the only players to win 400 matches in Masters 1000 series events.No. 28 Cam Norrie, the 2021 champion at Indian Wells, swept past Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-4. No. 14 Ugo Humbert and No. 21 Adrian Mannarino both advanced, while Arthur Fils, another Frenchman, ousted No. 23 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6-4.
Emma Raducanu, another past U.S. Open women’s champion, reached the third round when No. 30-seeded Dayana Yastremska had to retire after Raducanu had taken a 4-0 lead.