By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 9, 2025
Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki stunned Frances Tiafoe to become the lowest-ranked player to reach the round of 16 at Indian Wells since 2001.
Photo Source: TTV
By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 9, 2025
Indian Wells, California – A familiar face was in the coaching box tonight as Frances Tiafoe faced Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki in third round action at the BNP Paribas Open. But there was a twist: Wayne Ferreira, Tiafoe’s coach for three years, has recently joined up with the 26-year-old Japanese player for a trial run.
The trial is going pretty well, thank you.
Watanuki, ranked 349, stunned 17th-ranked Tiafoe (who is coached by David Witt) to become the lowest-ranked player to reach the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open since Tournament Director Tommy Haas in 2001, 6-4, 7-6(6).
"I'm speechless," Watanuki said after his thrilling performance. "I have no words."
Watanuki was ranked No.72 in the world in the fall of 2023, but knee tendinitis took him off the court and his ranking plummeted as he missed more than six months last year.
But linking up with Ferreira, who Watanuki credits for keeping him calm and helping him to enjoy his tennis, has sparked the Saitama, Japan native.
"I am sometimes a little bit nervous and feeling down," he said. "We tried to figure out a path to enjoy more. Winners are great, but even when I miss I enjoy -- that's really helpful for me."
He cruised through qualifying then took out Alexander Bublik and Tomas Machac in back-to-back matches.
On a chilly Sunday night in the California desert he powered 47 winners past Tiafoe and cracked 16 aces. Tiafoe could only muster 17 winners, though he did keep both sets close.
Tiafoe was broken three times, including critically in the tenth game of the opening set, which Watanuki claimed 6-4.
In the second set the American broke for 4-2 but could not hang on. That theme would recur as Tiafoe broke again for 6-5, but was immediately pegged back by Watanuki, who was drinking a can of Pepsi at changeovers late in the match.
He broke Tiafoe at love to force a second-set tiebreak.
Tiafoe earned a set point in the tiebreak, with Watanuki showing his nerves at several moments, but the 26-year-old gathered his courage and closed out the contest, taking the final three points to clinch his third career Top-20 win.
Watanuki will face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor in the round of 16 in a battle of unseeded players.