Novak Djokovic marked his return to the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters with a hard-fought victory over Aleksandar Vukic, signalling his intent to claim a sixth title at the prestigious event. After a hiatus since his Australian Open semi-final loss, Djokovic showcased his resilience, securing a thrilling win and notching his 400th Masters-level victory, a feat achieved by only Rafael Nadal prior.

The Serb's triumph was not the only headline of the day, as emerging talent Coco Gauff displayed her fighting spirit in a remarkable comeback against Clara Burel in the women's draw. Despite facing a daunting deficit, Gauff rallied from four games down in the final set, ultimately sealing victory in a gripping tie-breaker and showcasing her mental fortitude on the court.

Meanwhile, former world number one Naomi Osaka continued her resurgence after motherhood, advancing to the third round with a composed win over Liudmila Samsonova. With each match, Osaka reaffirms her presence among the elite contenders in women's tennis.

In other notable results, Danish seventh seed Holger Rune advanced to the third round following Milos Raonic's withdrawal due to injury, while US 12th seed Taylor Fritz and French 14th seed Ugo Humbert secured decisive victories to progress in the tournament.

However, the day wasn't without surprises, as fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula suffered an upset defeat at the hands of Anna Blinkova, adding another twist to the women's competition. Unseeded Emma Raducanu also benefited from Dayana Yastremska's retirement, earning a place in the third round.

As the action unfolds at Indian Wells, spectators can expect more gripping encounters and remarkable displays of athleticism as the tournament progresses.