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Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Aleksandar Vukic of Australia during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, March 9, 2024. Ray Acevedo, EPA-EFE.

epa11210342 Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Aleksandar Vukic of Australia during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 09 March 2024.  EPA-EFE/RAY ACEVEDO

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BNP Paribas Open Tennis Tournament

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/12086360 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Aleksandar Vukic of Australia during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, March 9, 2024. Ray Acevedo, EPA-EFE."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Aleksandar Vukic of Australia during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, March 9, 2024. <em><strong>Ray Acevedo, EPA-EFE.</strong></em></span></span></span></div><p>INDIAN WELLS -- Novak Djokovic struggled to a winning comeback at the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters five years after his last appearance, defeating Aleksandar Vukic 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 on Saturday.</p><p>World number one Djokovic, who had not played since losing an Australian Open semi-final to Jannik Sinner on January 26, is chasing a sixth title at the desert venue in the season&#x27;s first Masters event.</p><p>The 36-year-old Serb captured the 400th Masters-level victory of his career, joining Rafael Nadal as the only men to reach the 400 milestone at the elite level.</p><p>The 24-time Grand Slam champion has won his last 11 Masters matches, collecting titles last season in Cincinnati and Paris Bercy.</p><p>In the women&#x27;s draw, third seed Coco Gauff rallied from four games down in the final set to defeat France&#x27;s Clara Burel 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).</p><p>Former number one Naomi Osaka continued her comeback after motherhood as she reached the third round with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Liudmila Samsonova.</p><p>Djokovic claimed the opening set in 35 minutes with two service breaks but had to come from a break down in the third against his 69th-ranked Australian opponent.</p><p>Vukic held to 6-5 in the second set and landed a reflex service return winner on the line to square the match at a set each.</p><p>In the third set, top seed Djokovic broke for a 3-2 edge and closed out victory with a second break after just over two hours, notching his 51st win at the tournament where he first competed in 2006.</p><p>&quot;It was difficult to go through him&gt; He played amazing,&quot; Djokovic said of Vukic. &quot;He was ripping his forehand and crushing his serve.</p><p>&quot;In the third set I managed to crack the code. I stepped it up and finished the match in great style.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/2/15/nadal-says-djokovic-best-player-in-history-1224">READ: Nadal says Djokovic &#x27;best player in history&#x27;</a></div><p>Danish seventh seed Holger Rune was handed a free ride into the third round when former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic of Canada pulled out of their match with an injury.</p><p>US 12th seed Taylor Fritz, the 2022 winner, dispatched Alejandro Tabilo of Chile 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 in 73 minutes, pumping out 14 aces among his 27 winners.</p><p>&quot;I needed to play well to protect my serve,&quot; Fritz said. &quot;I always feel confident coming out here.&quot;</p><p>No. 13 Grigor Dimitrov, a 2021 semi-finalist, advanced past Alexandre Muller of France 7-5, 6-2.</p><p>Britain&#x27;s Cameron Norrie reached the third round over Italy&#x27;s Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-4.</p><p>Last weekend&#x27;s Dubai champion, Ugo Humbert, the 14th seed from France, defeated American Patrick Kypson by the same scoreline.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/3/9/alcaraz-rallies-to-subdue-arnaldi-in-indian-wells-opener-1346">READ: Alcaraz rallies to subdue Arnaldi in Indian Wells opener</a></div><div><strong>- Gauff rallies to win -</strong></div><p>Reigning US Open champion Gauff, who had a first-round bye, needed more than two and a quarter hours to advance.</p><p>Third-ranked Gauff was playing in front of a home crowd for the first time since winning her first Grand Slam title last September.</p><p>Gauff, who turns 20 next Wednesday, broke a WTA record by reaching 50 wins as a teenager at the Masters 1000 level, a category established in 2009.</p><p>Gauff trailed her 47th-ranked French opponent 4-0 and 5-2 in the deciding third set, but was able to power back and throw it into a tie-breaker.</p><p>She paved the way by breaking Burel to love as the Frenchwoman served for victory leading 5-4.</p><p>In the tie-breaker, Gauff advanced on her third match point as Burel swung wide.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m happy with the mental fight,&quot; Gauff said. &quot;It was not my best tennis... but it&#x27;s how you show up on your worst days, not your best ones, that counts.</p><p>&quot;Just getting through that match definitely meant a lot, I could have easily thrown in the towel. Am I proud of how I played? Not really, to be honest. But the fight, I am proud of.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/3/9/murray-bristles-at-retirement-talk-after-indian-wells-exit-1809">READ: Murray bristles at retirement talk after Indian Wells exit</a></div><p>Fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula was knocked out 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 by Anna Blinkova, who took revenge for a loss to the American at the start of the month in San Diego.</p><p>Blinkova, ranked 45th, added a second high-profile name to her victims&#x27; list after defeating Elena Rybakina at the Australian Open.</p><p>Unseeded Emma Raducanu benefitted as Dayana Yastremska retired four games into their match with an unspecified injury, handing the Briton a 4-0 win and a place in the third round.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Novak Djokovic struggled to a winning comeback at the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters five years after his last appearance, defeating Aleksandar Vukic 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 on Saturday.</p>

Novak Djokovic struggled to a winning comeback at the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters five years after his last appearance, defeating Aleksandar Vukic 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 on Saturday.

Tennis: Djokovic ends 5-year Indian Wells absence with difficult win

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Tennis: Djokovic ends 5-year Indian Wells absence with difficult win

Agence France-Presse

Published Mar 10, 2024 02:39 PM PHT

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tennis

Indian Wells

BNP Paribas Open

Novak Djokovic

Jannik Sinner

Coco Gauff

Jessica Pegula

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