Navarro shocks Sabalenka; Gauff, Medvedev advance
INDIAN WELLS (AFP) – American Emma Navarro shocked Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka to reach the Indian Wells ATP-WTA Masters quarterfinals on Wednesday as Coco Gauff sailed through.
Navarro, ranked 23rd in the world, pushed Sabalenka hard on a breezy Stadium Court to notch her first career win over a topfive player 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
US Open champion Gauff, seeded third, celebrated her 20th birthday with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 victory over Belgian Elise Mertens.
It wasn’t quite so easy for last year’s men’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev, but the fourthseeded Russian managed the windy conditions to post a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.
Medvedev next faces seventh-seeded Holger Rune, who saved a match point then roared through the second-set tiebreaker on the way to a 2-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 victory over 2022 champion Taylor Fritz.
“It was a crazy match,” Rune said. I managed to raise my level in the end of the second set. I just kept believing. I was always behind in the match, I was struggling to break his serve, but once I found my rhythm...especially the tiebreak was very good for me and then I just gained confidence.”
Medvedev said consistency was the key to his victory in windy conditions.
“I think in general I played well. I was really consistent,” said Medvedev, who had just 13 unforced errors as he moved a step closer to a first title at Indian Wells – the only hardcourt ATP Masters tournament he has never won.
In other men’s matches, American Tommy Paul ended Italian Luca Nardi’s dream week with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Nardi, who lost in qualifying but gained a place in the main draw as a “lucky loser” thanks to a withdrawal, was coming off a stunning upset of world number one Novak Djokovic in the third round.
Paul will play for a place in the semifinals against ninth-seeded Casper Ruud, who rallied to beat French veteran Gael Monfils 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.
Navarro’s victory over world number two Sabalenka continues a strong season for the 22-year-old, who won the WTA title in Hobart and reached the semifinals in Auckland and San Diego.
“It’s definitely cool to be able to play an opponent like that and feel like I can hang and I can win,” she said. “I’ve worked really hard over the years to kind of just get to this point and be able to play at a level that can compete with the best players in the world.
“I think that showed today,” she added.