Emma Raducanu’s decision to compete in elite-level tournaments has faced scrutiny since her return to the WTA Tour in January. However, she has justified her strategy by advancing to the third round at the WTA 1000 event in Indian Wells.
Raducanu progressed to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells when her opponent, Dayana Yastremska, retired injured after just four games. Raducanu had started strongly and held a commanding 4-0 lead in the opening set when Yastremska, the Ukrainian 30th seed, appeared to suffer an abdominal injury. Despite calling for the physio, Yastremska was unable to continue, conceding victory to the British player.
Raducanu appeared to be on course for victory even if the match had continued, as she showcased impressive performance during the portion of play that occurred. She initiated the match by breaking Yastremska’s serve with a superb drop shot in the opening game and displayed resilience by saving a break point in her initial service game.
A strong backhand led to a second break, followed by a routine service hold, consolidating Raducanu’s control of the match. It was during this game that Yastremska suffered the injury, resulting in her second retirement against the former US Open champion in two meetings.
Raducanu is now poised to face second seed and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, providing a significant test for the 21-year-old in her comeback from an injury-plagued 2023 season. The victory provided a much-needed boost to Raducanu’s WTA ranking, particularly as she is defending points earned from her fourth-round run in this competition in 2023.