Qualifying is just about over at the BNP Paribas Open, so without further ado, it’s time for the qualifying awards honoring the best moments from an action-packed past three days in Indian Wells
They feature some familiar names, newer faces — and most importantly -- thrilling matches.
Ethan Quinn is still in the early stages of his professional career after winning the NCAA singles title as a freshman last year with the University of Georgia.
The 19-year-old earned a qualifying wild card in Indian Wells — his first outing at a Masters 1000 — and took advantage by bettering a pair of players with significant experience in Challengers and hefty serves.
First, it was Quentin Halys (6-1, 7-5) and then Andrea Vavassori (4-6, 6-1, 6-2). Against Vavassori, Quinn took the final five games and won nearly 80 percent of points behind his first serve.
Two other US teenagers emerged from qualifying in the women’s draw, 2021 US Open junior winner Robin Montgomery and 2022 Wimbledon junior champion Liv Hovde.
The 19-year-old Montgomery — a wild card in 2022 and a qualifying wild card in 2023 — got the better of fellow lefty Storm Hunter on Tuesday, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The Washington, D.C. native hung on in the third set after initially leading 4-0. Hovde, 18, overcame a ranking deficit of about 200 places to beat Harriet Dart, 6-2, 6-3. The 18-year-old, who grew up in Texas, is all set to appear in her first WTA main draw.
Emilio Nava saved seven match points against fellow Californian Steve Johnson to win his first qualifying match 6-7 (6), 7-6 (10), 6-4 in nearly three hours.
Those match points came in four different games, too. And on one of them, the 22-year-old ripped a cross-court forehand when stretched into a corner. The last singles match of Johnson’s career thus ended with a heartbreaking loss, while Nava fell to Denis Kudla on Tuesday ending his qualifying run.
Sara Errani is a Grand Slam finalist, Indian Wells quarterfinalist and doubles semifinalist in the desert. But in her last three appearances at the BNP Paribas Open, the now 36-year-old Italian lost in singles qualifying.
The drought is over.
Errani topped Aleksandra Krunic in straight sets and followed it up with another straight-set win, 6-4, 6-0, over Arina Rodionova. The 34-year-old Australian earlier in the year had become the oldest woman to make her Top 100 debut.
Lucas Pouille — a quarterfinalist at three of the four majors — has spoken openly about his mental health struggles. From his high-water mark of No. 10 in 2018, the Frenchman dropped to outside the Top 650 last May.
But he picked up steam by qualifying for the French Open and now finds himself in his second ATP main draw of the season. Pouille lost that match in Montpellier in late January to junior Grand Slam winner Harold Mayot — the same foe he defeated Tuesday in Indian Wells as a wild card, 0-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Pouille, 30, last appeared in the Indian Wells main draw in 2019.
Ranked No. 227, Hong wasn’t even supposed to play qualifying. But the South Korean got his chance when Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki pulled out.
Hong stepped in and overcame Davis Cup teammate Soonwoo Kwon 6-3, 6-3, prior to rallying for a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) win against No. 101 Sumit Nagal of India.
The 26-year-old, whose lone Challenger title came in 2022, now looks for his first ATP main draw win right here in the desert.
