{"id":24039,"date":"2024-03-13T23:09:27","date_gmt":"2024-03-14T03:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/emma-navarro-coco-gauff-reach-quarterfinals-at-indian-wells\/13\/03\/2024\/"},"modified":"2024-03-13T23:09:27","modified_gmt":"2024-03-14T03:09:27","slug":"emma-navarro-coco-gauff-reach-quarterfinals-at-indian-wells","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/emma-navarro-coco-gauff-reach-quarterfinals-at-indian-wells\/13\/03\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Emma Navarro, Coco Gauff reach quarterfinals at Indian Wells"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Emma Navarro<\/a> beat second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka<\/a> 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday for the biggest win of the young American’s career.<\/p>\n

Navarro improved to 18-5 this year, with her victories leading the WTA Tour. She is 11-2 in three-set matches. The 2021 NCAA singles champion from Virginia reached her fourth quarterfinal of the year and first at the 1000 level.<\/p>\n

“I was able to stay aggressive on returns even though she has a really good serve,” Navarro said in an on-court interview. “Played some better service games in the third set and just was able to put a lot of pressure on her throughout. I think that’s what made the difference.”<\/p>\n

Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, trailed 1-4 in the third set and won just one more game before getting broken on Navarro’s second match point.<\/p>\n

“It’s never easy coming out and playing an opponent like that, so experienced and just so talented, obviously,” Navarro said. “She made it really tough on me today, but I was able to play some good tennis in the big moments.”<\/p>\n

The 22-year-old American won the title at Hobart early in the year.<\/p>\n

Coco Gauff<\/a> celebrated her 20th birthday with a 6-0, 6-2 win in just over an hour against Elise Mertens<\/a> to reach the quarters for the second consecutive year in the Southern California desert.<\/p>\n

“Today was one of my best matches since the Australian Open,” Gauff told the Tennis Channel. “I was definitely trying to be aggressive. That just made the difference. I don’t think she felt she could step in on me.”<\/p>\n

Mertens, who knocked off Naomi Osaka<\/a> in the third round, trailed 6-0, 2-0 before she broke Gauff and then fought through a five-deuce game on her serve for a 2-2 tie. But Gauff reeled off the final four games to improve to 4-0 in her career against the Belgian.<\/p>\n

“I did really well playing deep in the court and mixing up the pace on her,” Gauff said. “She can do really well when it’s all the same pace.”<\/p>\n

Gauff won 84% of her first serves and won six of eight break points.<\/p>\n

She formed a 2 and a zero with her hands to acknowledge her special day, with mom Candi dancing in the players’ box. Gauff blew out the candles on a cake she was presented by the Tennis Channel and then lifted it up and took a bite.<\/p>\n

On the men’s side, fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev<\/a> had just eight winners in a 6-4, 6-4 win over 13th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov<\/a>. Medvedev held at love to close out the match.<\/p>\n

No. 9 seed Casper Ruud<\/a> rallied to beat Gael Monfils<\/a> 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4. Ruud improved to 5-0 in deciding sets this year.<\/p>\n

Luca Nardi<\/a> of Italy wasn’t able to follow up his huge win over top-ranked Novak Djokovic<\/a>, losing to 17th-seeded Tommy Paul<\/a>, 6-4, 6-3.<\/p>\n

Paul fired five aces against no double faults. The American won 78% of his first-serve points and saved the only break point he faced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Emma Navarro beat second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open