Coco Gauff, the third seed in the Indian Wells tennis tournament, advanced to the next round following a hard-fought two-set victory over the 29th seed Maria Sakkari, despite a nail-biting finale that saw her commit six double faults in the final game.
Gauff, who had struggled with an alarming 21 double faults in her opening match against Moyuka Uchijima, managed to limit her double faults to nine in this round. Intriguingly, six of these nine errors occurred during the final game, a tense affair where she needed six match points to finally secure her victory.
Notably, Gauff’s triumph wasn’t just about winning the match, but also about avoiding any major on-court drama. The 20-year-old American managed to keep her composure, even while facing the pressure of multiple double faults in the closing moments of the game.
Following her win, Gauff is now set to contend against the victor of the match between Belinda Bencic and Diana Shnaider. A spot in the Indian Wells quarterfinal is up for grabs, adding extra intrigue to the upcoming match.
The duel between Gauff and Sakkari was marked by a series of breaks in the initial stages. The first four games saw an equal number of serve breaks, with Sakkari twice gaining the upper hand. However, the remainder of the set saw no further breaks, although Gauff did have a set point on Sakkari’s serve in the tenth game.
Sakkari put up a valiant effort, saving a set point to push the match to a tie-break. Unfortunately for her, a series of costly errors in the tie-break saw her lose the first set with just one point to her name.
The second set saw Gauff lose an early break but swiftly regain her footing. She claimed back-to-back breaks and won four consecutive games, sealing a two-set victory.
The win was especially sweet for Gauff, who had previously lost to Sakkari, a former world No. 3, in the Indian Wells tournament last year.
“I lost to Maria here last year in the semifinals, so it felt good to get a little revenge today… Even though I love her,” Gauff stated, further illuminating the competitive yet cordial spirit of the sport.
In conclusion, Coco Gauff’s victory over Maria Sakkari, despite the dramatic final game, showcases her resilience and determination. As she advances in the Indian Wells tournament, fans and competitors alike will be eagerly watching her progress.