Coco Gauff sends warning to rivals after Indian Wells birthday win and interview gaffe

Ewan West
Coco Gauff in action
Coco Gauff, of the United States, celebrates

Coco Gauff has sent a warning to her rivals at the 2024 Indian Wells Open by crushing Elise Mertens to reach the quarter-finals of the event on her 20th birthday on Wednesday. 

The US Open champion destroyed the world No 28 with an impressive 6-0, 6-2 victory in the last 16 of the WTA 1000 tournament to continue her push for a second title at this level.

Gauff lost just 10 points as she surged through the opening set without losing a game and a double bagel looked possible when she took a 2-0 second set lead.

Mertens, though, broke the American to win her first game and levelled the second set at 2-2, but Gauff ran off the next four games as she cruised to the win in just an hour and seven minutes.

The dominant victory against the 28-year-old Belgian was the perfect way for the world No 3 to celebrate her 20th birthday as she reached her second quarter-final in Indian Wells, having made the same stage last year.

Gauff’s win came after world No 2 and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka was upset in three sets by 22-year-old American Emma Navarro earlier on Wednesday.

READ MORE: Aryna Sabalenka suffers big rankings blow after shock Indian Wells defeat

Following her 19th consecutive win on American hard-courts, there was an amusing moment as the on-court interviewer climbed the umpire’s chair to give Gauff a birthday wish as the microphone was not working.

The 20-year-old did then reflect on her triumph and her current level in an interview with former world No 4 Tim Henman for Sky Sports.

“I played really well today, best match of the tournament so far and obviously happy to get a win on my birthday,” the American said.

“Honestly, I felt like my best tennis that I played last year was during the Cincinnati and [Washington] DC — those two tournaments — so I guess I’ll compare it to that. I feel like I’m close to that level. Obviously when I’m playing like that, it’s very hard to beat me.

“And then US Open, I think I played well in moments, but especially that last match (the final against Sabalenka), I think it was just more of a mental win for me.”

Gauff will face either Diane Parry or Maria Sakkari in the quarter-finals in Indian Wells.

READ MORE: World No 1 Iga Swiatek opens up on working with a psychologist in exclusive Tennis365 interview

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