Emma Raducanu advanced to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells when Dayana Yastremska had to withdraw due to a stomach issue. The match was in its second round, and Raducanu was ahead 4-0, 15-0 after just 23 minutes.
Raducanu has made it to the third round, marking the first time she has progressed through two consecutive rounds since she returned to competition this year. She had previously undergone surgery on both hands and her ankle in 2023. As a result of her performance, the 21-year-old will remain in the world’s top 300, specifically at No. 287 in the WTA rankings.
A potential challenge awaits in the world of women’s tennis as she prepares to rival Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open winner and current No 2 seed. On Saturday, Sabalenka will face hometown favorite Peyton Stearns.
After comfortably defeating Rebeka Masarova in the first round on Thursday, which was classified as a qualifier, Raducanu faced a tougher challenge in the second round to gauge her skills against higher-ranked competitors.
Yastremska, previously a highly promising young player, has returned to the top 30 rankings this year after a tumultuous couple of seasons. She made it to the semi-finals of the Australian Open, showcasing her abilities. When she is performing at her best, she is known for her powerful shots and determination to compete on her own terms, disregarding her opponents’ strategies. This has its advantages, but also results in her being an inconsistent player, even during her peak years. Despite her impressive run at the Australian Open, where she won eight matches and reached the semi-finals, Yastremska has only won 2 out of 5 matches since then. She continues to strive for a solid performance to maintain her strong start to the season.
Raducanu faced the task of limiting Yastremska’s powerful shots, minimizing her own mistakes, and seizing opportunities to fight back. She executed her strategy flawlessly in the beginning, consistently placing strong returns and serving well in a tense first game, and maintaining a solid performance throughout.
Yastremska’s game appeared to be completely off after she made a mistake on a routine volley. She continued to make unforced errors in the early stages of the game, resulting in a quick 4-0 deficit.
Trailing 0-15 in the fifth set, Yastremska fell back to the rear fence, hunching over and flinching in pain while clutching her stomach. After being directed to her chair by umpire Kader Nouni, Yastremska and her opponent shared a hug as she retired from the match.
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Raducanu may not have much to gain from a 23-minute match against an unhealthy opponent, but she can find some comfort in her solid and confident performance, as well as the fact that she was not the one struggling physically for once. She will face another tough challenge on Monday.
Cameron Norrie had an easy win in the men’s draw, defeating Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-4 in the second round. The top-ranked British player will now face either Hubert Hurkacz or Gäel Monfils in his next match, which is scheduled for later in the evening.
Source: theguardian.com
