Court Report: Kayla Day, 17, ousts Aussie Open darling Lucic-Baroni

Each day on TENNIS.com, we’ll feature Tennis Channel’s Court Report, a rundown of the day that was in the sport—along with our thoughts on what’s happening on the courts around the world.

American Kayla Day, at age 17 the youngest player in the BNP Paribas Open singles draw—and the youngest player in the Top 200, for that matter—picked up the biggest win of her young career on Friday, upsetting Australian Open semifinalist and seasoned veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in three tight sets.

Day, 18 years Lucic-Baroni’s junior, took the first set 6-4. The Croatian, seeded 32nd, forced a decider with a 7-5 second set and led the third 5-3. Playing in front of her home crowd—Day was born and currently resides in Santa Barbara, Ca., a roughly four-hour drive from Indian Wells—the reigning U.S. Open junior champion stormed back to take the final four games and the match.

The world No. 175, who had never before played at Indian Wells, is in just her fourth WTA main draw. She had only won one previous WTA main-draw match, a 6-2, 4-2 (RET) victory over countrywoman Madison Brengle in the first round of last year’s U.S. Open.

Next up for the lefty wild card is seventh-seeded Garbine Muguruza, who defeated Kirsten Flipkens in straight sets in her opener.

Speaking of American teenagers, 19-year-old Californian Taylor Fritz—he hails from San Diego—snapped a bit of a slump with an impressive 6-3, 6-2 win over 40th-ranked Frenchman Benoit Paire. Fritz will have his hands full in the second round, where sixth-seeded Marin Cilic awaits.

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