As the 2023 Indian Wells tournament gets underway, all eyes are on rising star Coco Gauff who is still waiting to win her first WTA 1000 trophy.
The 18-year-old American tennis prodigy has been making waves on the circuit since she burst onto the scene in 2019, and with a record of 11-3 so far this year, she's looking to add another trophy to her collection.
Gauff enters the tournament as the sixth seed, but don't let her ranking fool you – she's one of the top favorites who has already proven her qualities this season with a title win in Auckland. With a bye in the first round, she'll face one of the qualifiers in the second round before potentially taking on Amanda Anisimova in the third.
Anisimova, the 31st seed, is no slouch on the court, but Gauff has already managed to beat her in the past. The two have faced off twice before, with Gauff winning the first match in straight sets, and if she shows the same kind of performance also in Indian Wells, she should be able to dispatch Anisimova and move on to the fourth round.
There, she could potentially face either Belinda Bencic or Shuai Zhang, both of whom have had strong showings this year. Bencic, the ninth seed, has already made it to two finals this season, winning both. Zhang, the 22nd seed, recently struggled with form but reached the fourth round in Melbourne.
But regardless of who she faces, Gauff is more than capable of coming out on top and moving to the next round. Assuming she makes it past the fourth round, Gauff's likely quarterfinal opponent will be either Aryna Sabalenka or Barbora Krejcikova.
Sabalenka, the second seed, is a hard-hitting player who can overpower opponents with her serve and forehand. But she's also been prone to errors, and if Gauff can keep her unforced errors down and stay focused, she could pull off the upset.
Krejcikova, the 16th seed, is a more versatile player who can mix up her shots and play defensively. But Gauff has the advantage in power and speed, and if she can keep Krejcikova on the run, she should be able to dictate play and come away with the win.
If Gauff can make it past the quarterfinals, she'll likely face either Jessica Pegula or Maria Sakkari in the semifinals. Pegula, the third seed, has been in good form this season, reaching the quarterfinals or better in every tournament she's played. Sakkari, the seventh seed, is another player who can mix up her shots and play defensively.
Both players will be tough opponents, but Gauff has the talent and mental fortitude to come out on top. Assuming she makes it to the finals, she could potentially face Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, Ons Jabeur, Caroline Garcia, or Daria Kasatkina – all of whom are dangerous opponents in their own right.
World no. 1 Swiatek will be the biggest favorite to win the title and in their previous 6 meetings, Gauff never defeated her. But maybe, the 2023 Indian Wells BNP Paribas Open is the place where she will change it.
Coco Gauff: Road to Title at 2023 Indian Wells
| Round 1 | BYE |
| Round 2 | Qualifier |
| Round 3 | Amanda Anisimova (31) |
| Round 4 | Belinda Bencic (9) / Shuai Zhang (22) |
| Quarterfinals | Aryna Sabalenka (2) / Barbora Krejcikova (16) |
| Semifinals | Jessica Pegula (3) / Maria Sakkari (7) |
| Final | Iga Swiatek (1) / Elena Rybakina (10) / Ons Jabeur (4) / Caroline Garcia (5) / Daria Kasatkina (8) |
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