© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka failed to set up an Indian Wells round-of-16 meeting against Coco Gauff after losing to Elise Mertens.
On Monday, No. 3 seed and home favorite Gauff ousted Lucia Bronzetti 6-2 7-6 (5) to progress into the Indian Wells round-of-16. After Gauff sealed a round-of-16 ticket, she was waiting on the winner of the match between Osaka and Mertens.
At that moment, it seemed likely that an Osaka and Gauff match would highlight round-of-16 action in Indian Wells. But then, Osaka suffered a loss as Mertens claimed a 7-5 6-4 win over the former world No. 1.
Down by a double break early in the first set, Osaka managed to recover and tie the first set to five games apiece. Just when it seemed that Osaka could make a big comeback in the first set, she lost her serve again in the 11th game as Mertens took a 6-5 lead before serving out for the opener in the following game.
After losing the first set, Osaka also dropped her serve in the first game of the second set but managed to get the break back in the sixth game. But just after getting the break back, Osaka lost her serve again in the seventh game of the second set. Up by a set and a…
