Simona Halep recovers from slow start to beat Daria Gavrilova

Simona Halep bounced back from losing the opening set to secure a 2-6 6-1 6-2 win over qualifier Daria Gavrilova in the second round of Indian Wells this evening.

The world number three, who decided to take part in this event just days after her cousin's death, looked off her game in the opening set, making a string of double faults to let the Russian edge ahead.

The Romanian was a break down again in the second, but soon found her focus, winning six games in a row to level the match and force a deciding set.

The mistakes started to creep back in during the third from Halep, but she managed to dig deep to save a couple of break points early on before putting her opponent under pressure and getting the break to serve it out.

Halep will face either Varvara Lepchenko or Sachia Vickery in the third round.