Kamilla Rakhimova upset 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open, winning 6-7(6), 6-0, 6-1 despite dropping the opening set. The Uzbek qualifier advanced to face Coco Gauff in the second round after capitalizing on Andreescu's blister injury. Rakhimova expressed confidence ahead of the matchup against the world No. 4.
Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 Indian Wells champion and former world No. 4, entered the BNP Paribas Open as a wildcard hoping to build momentum in her 2026 comeback. She had not secured a tour-level win in seven months following an ankle injury sustained during her first-round victory over Barbora Krejcikova at Montreal last summer. Andreescu began 2026 by winning ITF W35 and W75 titles in Bradenton and Vero Beach, Florida, before losing her WTA return match in Austin to Dalma Galfi, 3-6, 7-5, 4-6. This marked her fourth appearance at the event and her first career encounter with Kamilla Rakhimova.
The match started competitively, with Rakhimova holding serve early before Andreescu broke for a 3-1 lead in the first set. Rakhimova responded with three straight games, forcing a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Rakhimova led 6-3 with three set points, but Andreescu rallied, winning five consecutive points—including after a missed swinging volley by Rakhimova—to claim the set 7-6(6) in 66 minutes. Andreescu tallied 15 winners and six of her 12 aces in the opener.
Rakhimova dominated the second set, winning 6-0 in just 33 minutes without dropping a game, her first such performance in a main-draw tour-level match since defeating Sara Bejlek at the 2023 French Open. She converted three of seven break points in the set. After the set, Andreescu took a medical timeout for blisters on her left toe and foot.
The injury hampered Andreescu in the third set, where she limped between points and showed reduced mobility. Rakhimova won 11 of the final 12 games to secure the victory. "I was up 6-3, we saw that," Rakhimova said in her on-court interview. "Tennis happens, it happens. I needed to come back stronger and to keep doing my thing."
Rakhimova, a qualifier from Uzbekistan, now faces world No. 4 Coco Gauff, who received a bye. Gauff has won both prior meetings in straight sets, at the 2026 Australian Open and 2025 China Open. This will be Gauff's first match since reaching the semifinals in Dubai. "I'm so ready, no pressure—just enjoy tennis and of course myself," Rakhimova added.
