- Emma Raducanu has been ousted from Indian Wells after losing to Belarusian world number two Aryna Sabalenka in the third round
- British number one Cameron Norrie was also stunned in the third round of Indian Wells by Frenchman Gael Monfils
Emma Raducanu has been ousted from Indian Wells after losing to Belarusian world number two Aryna Sabalenka in the third round.
Raducanu, who made it to the fourth round last year in California, showed an impressive display on Monday but ended up losing in straight sets 6-3, 7-5. The 21-year-old British player is currently ranked 250 in the world after an injury-disrupted 2023 and was a wildcard at the Indian Wells.
Raducanu is trying to find her way back to the top and will be pleased by the progressed she has shown so far and her performance against Sabalenka, who won the 20233 and 2024 Australian Open titles.
Emma Raducanu was eliminated from Indian Wells in the third round by Belarusian world number two Aryna Sabalenka. Raducanu is yet to defeat a top ten player in her tennis career. Photo/ Sky Sports.
Against the world number two, Raducanu started well, playing two tidy service games to settle into the match. The opening four games of the match were shared.
However, thing started getting tough for her as Sabalenka found her range and rhythm in the match. Every time Raducanu missed her first serve, the world number two laid waste to her second and winners would then follow in an easy manner. Sabalenka took a 5-2 lead and went on to clinch the set.
The Belarusian talent then started the second set on a high note and it looked as if she was going to secure a comfortable victory before Raducanu showed her fighting spirit by battling back from a break down to level at 5-5.
Unfortunately to the Briton, Sabalenka broke to go 6-5 and then served for the match, sealing the winning point. As the world number two is preparing to face American Emma Navarro, Emma Raducanu is expected to next play at the Miami Open, which starts on March 20.
“It was a good success, I would say. I think I have handled myself a lot better on the match court. I was a lot more positive and hungry to play, and that showed I think in the tennis that I did play.” Emma Raducanu said after exiting the Indian Wells, as per BBC.
Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open, returned to tour in January after being absent for eight months. She underwent surgeries on her ankle and wrists.
Norrie Exits Indian Wells
Elsewhere, British number one Cameron Norrie was stunned by Frenchman Gael Monfils in the third round of Indian Wells. Norrie led by a set and was 3-0 up before Monfils pulled a shocking comeback to win the epic match in three hours and 12 minutes.
Norrie, who lost 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (5-7) 3-6, started the match well and had 20 break points before narrowly winning a tense tie-break in one hour and 22 minutes.
Cameron Norrie suffered a 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (5-7) 3-6 loss in the third round of Indian Wells to Frenchman Gael Monfils. Photo/ BBC.
Norrie started the second set with a dominant display, holding serve in the first game before gaining another early break after Monfils conceded a double fault. The Frenchman clawed back to level the scores in a shocking turn of events and then clinched the set.
The opening games of the decider were shared before Cameron Norrie began showing signs of fatigue, which allowed Monfils to triumph. The 37-year-old has now won all matches he has played against Norrie.
“I’ve been working hard. Cam was playing very good tactically. He was better than me at the beginning. I had to change and think about it. I had to improve a couple things in my game to give him trouble and at the end I was happy that physically I could stay with him.” Gael Monfils said after defeating Cameron Norrie in Indian Wells, as per yahoo.com.
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