Indian Wells, USA, 15 March 2022 | Leigh Rogers

Daria Saville has beaten world No.23 Elise Mertens to continue her stunning run at Indian Wells.

The Australian qualifier scored a 6-3 4-6 6-3 victory during third-round action today, triumphing in a two-hour and 57-minute battle.

This is Saville’s third consecutive win this week against a top 50-ranked opponent in the Californian desert.

It also marks the first time since a title-winning run at New Haven in August 2017 that Saville has won five consecutive tour-level matches.

https://twitter.com/WTA/status/1503479538348552193?s=20&t=ELZf3NLPUSJagpKMqHcc8Q

This is also Saville’s career-best result at Indian Wells, bettering third-round appearances in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The Australian qualifier now faces world No.6 Maria Sakkari for a place in the quarterfinals. Saville won their only previous career meeting at San Antonio in 2016.

Saville is currently ranked No.409, after missing most of the 2021 season following Achilles surgery.

Her Indian Wells efforts are set to provide a welcome ranking boost, with the 28-year-old from Melbourne projected to return to the world’s top 250 next week.

Saville achieved her career-best ranking, at world No.20, in August 2017.

Nick Kyrgios continued his giant-killing run today as well, upsetting world No.8 Casper Ruud in men’s singles third-round action.

> READ: Kyrgios powers into fourth round at Indian Wells

Aussies in action – Indian Wells

TODAY’S RESULTS
Women’s singles, third round
[Q] Daria Saville (AUS) d [20] Elise Mertens (BEL) 6-3 4-6 6-3

Men’s singles, third round
[WC] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) d [8] Casper Ruud (NOR) 6-4 6-4

Women’s doubles, second round
[3] Coco Gauff (USA)/Caty McNally (USA) d Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)/Maria Sakkari (GRE) 6-4 6-1

COMING UP
Women’s singles, fourth round
[Q] Daria Saville (AUS) v [6] Maria Sakkari (GRE)

Men’s singles, third round
[29] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Tommy Paul (USA)

Men’s singles, fourth round
[WC] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) v [10] Jannik Sinner (ITA)

Women’s doubles, quarterfinals
[8] Storm Sanders (AUS)/Caroline Dolehide (USA) v Xu Yifan (CHN)/Yang Zhaoxuan (CHN)

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