An error-strewn performance did not cost Coco Gauff as she saw off a stern challenge from Japan's Moyuka Uchijima to kickstart her Indian Wells campaign on Saturday.

Gauff needed two hours and 35 minutes to record her 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-4) victory over Uchijima, requiring five attempts at match point to get over the line.

Gauff lost serve three games into the first set, but she responded immediately then broke again to take the opener inside 46 minutes.

However, there were signs of things to come at the end of that set as Gauff repeatedly came under pressure on her own serve, and she was broken four times – in her first two service games and her last two – in the second set as Uchijima drew level.

Gauff would ultimately commit an incredible 21 double faults throughout the contest, 10 of which came in the decider as she almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

The 2023 US Open winner committed one double fault on her first match point, then another followed when a break point down as she slumped from 5-3 up to 5-5.

Gauff ultimately got the job done in a tie-break, but having committed 74 unforced errors, she will need to be far better against Maria Sakkari in round two.

136 - Since 2009, Coco Gauff (136) is the only player with 100+ combined WTA-1000 and Grand Slam match wins before the age of 21, with Caroline Wozniacki (98) recording the next-most over that span. Progress.#TennisParadise | @BNPPARIBASOPEN @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/pLLZgpzs67

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) March 8, 2025

Data Debrief: Gauff pulls further clear

This was hardly a vintage performance from Gauff, but Uchijima was unable to punish the American as she brought up her 136th victory at WTA 1000 events or grand slams.

Gauff, who turns 21 next week, is the only player to have over 100 such victories before reaching the age of 21, since the WTA 1000 format was introduced in 2009. 

Second-placed Caroline Wozniacki had 98 wins before turning 21, putting her some way behind Gauff.