Despite a rocky start and a remarkable 21 double faults, Coco Gauff clinched a much-needed victory in the Indian Wells opener, narrowly averting what would have been her fourth straight defeat. The 20-year-old American tennis sensation, who previously stumbled in the Australian Open quarterfinal against Paula Badosa and the initial rounds in both Doha and Dubai, finally tasted victory after a two-month dry spell. Gauff battled it out in an intense match lasting over two and half hours against Moyuka Uchijima, eventually prevailing with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) scoreline.
Uchijima, the player who recently triumphed over Emma Raducanu, took an early lead in the match, securing the first break in the third game. Gauff, the No. 3 seed who entered the tournament with a first-round bye, wasn’t far behind. She swiftly countered, snapping back with breaks in the fourth and 10th games to erase the early shortfall and claim the first set.
Just as it seemed Gauff was gaining traction and breaking Uchijima’s resolve, she hit a rough patch with her serve. Despite the 2023 US Open champion securing two breaks in the second set, she lost the set swiftly after her own serve was broken an astonishing four times.
The third set was a rollercoaster ride, with Gauff squandering several opportunities but narrowly avoiding a catastrophe. Despite a comfortable 4-0 lead at the onset of the third set, a series of missed match points in the ninth and tenth games gave Uchijima a chance to claw her way back into the game. Gauff’s troubles didn’t end there, she missed further opportunities after securing another break for a 6-5 lead, only to falter when serving for the match in the subsequent game.
However, Gauff’s missteps did not cost her the match. After a nail-bitingly close third set, she needed five match points before finally securing her victory via a tie-break. Gauff’s next challenge awaits in the third round of Indian Wells where she’ll face No. 29 seed Maria Sakkari. Despite the struggle, Gauff’s determination and resilience shone through, showing why she’s one of the most promising talents in the world of tennis.