With 17-year-old Ashlyn Krueger qualifying for main draw at Indian Wells, Coco Gauff is no longer youngest player in the tournament
At 17 years, 11 months and 27 days, Coco Gauff was initially the youngest player in the main draw of the 2022 BNP Paribas Open, scheduled to kick off in Indian Wells on 9 March.
However, Gauff will pass the baton to another 17-year-old, Ashlyn Krueger, who on Tuesday made it into the main draw after winning two matches in the qualifying rounds.
Around two months younger than Gauff, Krueger holds the distinction of being the youngest player in the women's singles draw. The American will be playing in the main draw of the BNP Paribas Open for the second time, having received a wildcard for last year's tournament.
17yo Ashlyn Krueger qualifies for the main draw in Indian Wells.
@josemorgado Coco won't be the youngest in the draw!
Krueger scored upset wins over Panna Udvardy and Christina McHale in the qualification rounds to book her spot in the main draw.
The youngster opened with a tight 7-6(5), 7-6(2) win over World No. 82 Udvardy, who was the fourth seed in the qualifiers, before backing it up with a rollercoaster 1-6, 6-4, 6-0 win over the seasoned McHale in the final qualification round.
Krueger has been outstanding on return this week, breaking her opponents on 12 occasions. Her win over 23-year-old Udvardy was her first over a player ranked inside the top 100 of the WTA rankings.
The American, who is yet to win a main-draw match on the WTA tour, will take on Yulia Putintseva in the first round at the BNP Paribas Open.
Coco Gauff, Emma Raducanu and Ashlyn Krueger among teenagers in Indian Wells main draw
Coco Gauff and Ashlyn Kreuger will be spearheading the teenagers' charge at the 2022 BNP Paribas Open.
While Krueger will take on Putintseva in her opener, Gauff, the 16th seed, has been awarded a bye in the first round. She awaits the winner of the opening-round match between Viktoriya Tomova and Claire Liu.
2021 US Open finalists Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez have also received byes in the first round. While Raducanu will take on the winner of an exciting first-round clash between Caroline Garcia and Dayana Yastremska, Fernandez could run into Amanda Anisimova.
29th seed Clara Tauson, China's Zheng Qinwen, Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk and wildcards Robin Montgomery and Elvina Kalieva are the other teenagers in this year's draw.
Practices in Tennis Paradise 🌴
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