Gauff Faces Sakkari in Key Rematch at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Reigning champion Coco Gauff is set to face Maria Sakkari in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on March 10, 2025, after both players battled through early matches at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Gauff, seeded No. 3, secured a hard-fought win against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, while Sakkari, ranked 29th, handled her opponent with ease.

In her first match since the Australian Open, Gauff overcame a rough start characterized by 21 double faults and 70 unforced errors to win 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4), snapping a three-match losing streak. “It wasn’t my best tennis at all today, but I’m just happy to get through,” Gauff said post-match. “It’s been a rough couple of weeks, and I’m just happy to get a win on the court.” The world No. 3 built a commanding 4-0 lead in the final set but struggled to close out the match, needing five match points to seal her victory.

Sakkari, on the other hand, breezed through her match, defeating Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova 6-0, 6-3. The matchup with Gauff will be significant, as Sakkari leads their head-to-head record 5-3 and won their last encounter, a semifinal in Indian Wells last year.

“Every match against Coco is tough,” Sakkari remarked, expressing confidence in her abilities. “I feel good about my game and I can’t wait to compete.”

Both players have encountered challenges throughout the season, with Sakkari looking to regain consistency after falling out of the top rankings. This match could serve as a turning point in both their seasons, with Gauff looking to regain form after defeating multiple Grand Slam champions earlier in her career.

In another highly anticipated matchup, Gaël Monfils and Grigor Dimitrov, both seasoned players, will clash later in the day. At ages 38 and 34, respectively, they continue to showcase their skills on the ATP tour. Monfils, who became the oldest ATP title winner since 1990 this year, will be looking to build upon his victory against Sebastian Korda, while Dimitrov aims to advance beyond the first round after a lackluster start to the season.

As the tournament progresses, fans are eager to see if Gauff can turn her performance around and if Sakkari will capitalize on her momentum. The excitement builds as both players prepare for their match on March 10 at 4 p.m. ET, streaming live on TennisChannel.com.