Gauff easily defeats Mertens at Indian Wells, while Navarro stuns second-seeded Sabalenka

Emma Navarro achieved the biggest victory of her career, upsetting world no. 2 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, and making her first-ever trip to the Indian Wells tournament quarterfinals. In the meantime, Coco Gauff defeated Elise Mertens 6-0, 6-2 to celebrate turning 20 years old in style. 

Facing the powerful serve of Sabalenka, Navarro remained composed and capitalized on four out of five break-point opportunities in windy conditions. Despite dropping the second set, Navarro maintained her focus and clinched victory in the decider.

Navarro’s resilient performance earned her a quarter-final showdown with ninth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece, who secured her spot with a hard-fought 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over Diane Parry of France.

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Reflecting on her stunning victory, Navarro expressed gratitude to the supportive crowd and acknowledged the challenge posed by her experienced opponent. Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, praised Navarro’s potential and predicted a bright future for the rising star.

Meanwhile, Gauff delivered a commanding performance on her birthday, overpowering Mertens with her aggressive play. With the win, Gauff advanced to the quarter-finals where she will face unseeded Yue Yuan of China. Yuan, who recently claimed her maiden WTA title, staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Russian 11th seed Daria Kasatkina in three sets.

As the tournament progresses, Navarro and Gauff continue to showcase their talent and determination, setting the stage for exciting matches in the upcoming rounds.