The Indian Wells Tennis Tournament in California saw big names shine and surprises unfold on Sunday, as Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner advanced to the round of 16.
However, fourth seed Coco Gauff was forced to retire mid-match against Alex Eala, handing the young Filipino star a spot in the last 16.
Two time major champion Gauff, who has only retired from one match previously in her whole career, decided to withdraw early in the second set while trailing 2-6, love-2 and apologised to Eala.
She was forced to call it quits due to persistent pain in her left elbow.
The retirement of Gauff sends the 20-year-old Eala, who has become a celebrity in the Philippines thanks to wins over some of the sport’s biggest names, into the round of 16, where she will face Czech Linda Noskova.
World number one Sabalenka had no such problems, she eased into the last 16 with a straight sets win over Romanian Jaqueline Cristian.
The Belarusian needed just 71 minutes to wrap up a 6-4 6-1 victory at the Women’s Tennis Association 1 000 event.
Up next for the Belrusian is a match against fellow four-time Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka of Japan.
And in the men’s singles, world number two Jannik Sinner eased into the next round of Association of Tennis Professionals 1 000 event, with a straight sets victory against Canadian Denis Shapovalov.
Sinner also needed just 71 minutes to claim a 6-3 6-2 win, and the second seed will next face Brazilian Joao Fonseca for a place in the quarter-finals.
–SABC–
