Australian Daria Saville continues to impress in her tour return, beating Ons Jabeur at Indian Wells to record her first top-10 victory since 2018.
Indian Wells, USA, 13 March 2022 | Leigh Rogers
Daria Saville has recorded her biggest win in more than three years, eliminating world No.10 Ons Jabeur in the second round at Indian Wells.
The Aussie qualifier recorded a sensational 7-5 6-7(0) 6-4 victory in a two-hour and 39-minute battle today against the ninth-seeded Tunisian.
Saville showed incredible grit to recover from the disappointment of squandering two match points in the 12th game of the second set.
Jabeur quickly wrested back control of the match, taking the second set in a dominant tiebreak and then snaring an early break in the deciding set.
Yet the tenacious Saville refused to give in. The world No.409 eventually wore down her higher-ranked opponent, winning six of the final eight games against the 2021 semifinalist.
Oh my Aussie đŚ
World No. 409 @Daria_gav knocks out last yearâs semifinalist and No.9 seed Ons Jabeur 7-5, 6-7(0), 6-4#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/jfOOxvsn3x
â BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 13, 2022
It is Savilleâs 12th career top-10 win â and first since October 2018.
The victory also matches the 28-year-old Australianâs career-best result at Indian Wells. Saville has previously advanced to the third round in the Californian desert on three other occasions (in 2017, 2018 and 2019).
To progress to the fourth round for a first time, Saville will need to beat No.20 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium.
Mertens has won three of their four previous career meetings, including their most recent encounter at Roland Garros in 2018.
Aussies Astra Sharma and Nick Kyrgios are scheduled to play their second-round singles matches later today.
In menâs doubles action, the title defense of Australian John Peers and Slovak partner Filip Polasek ended with a shock first-round loss.
El Salvadorâs Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands recorded a 3-6 6-2 [11-9] victory against the fifth seeds.
Aussies in action â Indian Wells
TODAYâS RESULTS
Womenâs singles, second round
[Q] Daria Saville (AUS) d [9] Ons Jabeur (TUN) 7-5 6-7(0) 6-4
Menâs doubles, first round
Marcelo Arevalo (ESA)/Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) d [5] John Peers (AUS)/Filip Polasek (SVK) 3-6 6-2 [11-9]
COMING UP
Menâs singles, second round
[29] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [LL] John Millman (AUS)
Jordan Thompson (AUS)Â v [33] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
[WC] Nick Kyrgios (AUS)Â v [32] Federico Delbonis (ARG)Â
Womenâs singles, second round
[LL] Astra Sharma (AUS)Â v [13] Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
Womenâs singles, third round
[Q] Daria Saville (AUS) v [20] Elise Mertens (BEL)
Menâs doubles, second round
[WC] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)/Nick Kyrgios (AUS)Â v [WC] John Isner (USA)/Jack Sock (USA)
Womenâs doubles, second round
[8] Storm Sanders (AUS)/Caroline Dolehide (USA) v Madison Keys (USA)/Jessica Pegula (USA)
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)/Maria Sakkari (GRE) v [3] Coco Gauff (USA)/Caty McNally (USA)
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