Novak Djokovic marked his return to the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells with a hard-fought victory over Aleksandar Vukic, winning 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. This win also made Djokovic only the second player, alongside Rafael Nadal, to achieve 400 victories in ATP Masters 1000 series events. The top-ranked Djokovic, a five-time champion at Indian Wells, had not competed in the tournament since 2019.
On the women's side, Coco Gauff faced a tough challenge in her opening match, falling behind 4-0 and 5-2 in the third set before rallying to defeat Clara Burel 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). Gauff, the U.S. Open women's champion, advanced to the next round to face Lucia Bronzetti after her narrow victory.
Meanwhile, some seeded players faced early exits in the tournament. Naomi Osaka eliminated No. 14 Liudmila Samsonova, setting up a match against No. 24 Elise Mertens. No. 27 Victoria Azarenka was upset by American Caroline Dolehide, and Emma Raducanu advanced to the third round after No. 30-seeded Dayana Yastremska retired.
In the men's draw, Djokovic managed to avoid an upset by overcoming Vukic in a challenging three-set match. Djokovic, who had last played in the Australian Open, showcased his resilience in this match. Other notable players like Taylor Fritz, Cam Norrie, Grigor Dmitrov, Ugo Humbert, and Adrian Mannarino also progressed to the third round.
The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells continues to be a stage for thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes, with both established champions and rising stars showcasing their skills on the court.
