BNP PARIBAS | Indian Wells CA | MONDAY MARCH 13

We’re keeping an eye on all of your favorite US players at this week’s BNP Paribas Masters in Palm Springs! Stay tuned for daily updates from the desert!

First there was the departure of Serena Williams from the main draw, then the emergence of Kayla Day (Santa Barbara), but the next big story in women’s tennis emerging this week may be Lauren Davis, the #38 ranked player on the WTA Tour and the first American woman to reach this year’s fourth round at Indian Wells. Davis, a native of Ohio, has already notched a WTA victory this year (in Auckland) and emerged from the qualifier in Qatar to reach the quarterfinals. Her opponent in the fourth round will be #26 Kristina Mladenovic of France, whom Davis has played only once in her career – a 2013 loss at Roland Garros.

Lauren Davis / USA

Both Venus Williams and Madison Keys look poised to reach the fourth round, both slated to face unseeded opponents in their Round 3 match-ups later today. (update: Venus Williams won her matinee on Stadium 1 in oppressive heat, 6-4, 6-2.)

Steve Johnson (Redondo Beach) appears in doubles competition while John Isner looks to outgroove Gael Monfils in Monday evening action.

AROUND THE GROUNDS at the Tennis Garden

Last night under the lights, Taylor Fritz (Palos Verdes) won for the first time against a Top 10 player, besting Marin Cilic in three grueling sets. “Just the whole experience with the crowd,” Fritz lamented afterwards. “How I came back in the match, words can’t describe it, really.” Fritz will next face Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri, whose 2017 track record includes solid matches with top names such as John Isner, Nick Kyrgios, and Andy Murray. The two have faced off twice, splitting the two, in Qualifier and Futures competition… Not to be overshadowed by the drama in singles, Bethanie Mattek-Sands continues to roll as one half of the top Women’s doubles tandem. She’s teamed with Lucie Safarova, who fell today in singles opposite Venus Williams… Sam Querrey (Santa Monica), following a stunning second round singles defeat, advanced today to the third round of Men’s doubles, as did USA’s Rajeev Ram, while Vania King (Monterey Park) was eliminated from the Women’s tandems.