Emma Raducano’s bid for a top-10 contender continues, after she was comfortably beaten 6-3, 6-1 in Indian Wells by world number one Ija Swiatek.
No shame in being second only to Swiatek, which he was dominant force In the game since Ashleigh Partey played her last professional match 14 months ago. During that time period, Swiatek won 74 of his 84 matches and developed a reputation for handing out “breadsticks” and “breadsticks”—tennis lingo for 6-0 and 6-1 combos.
Raducanu was the last recipient of one of those hits, despite an encouraging start in which she kept Swiatek’s power play lopsided enough to threaten an early stop. It began to slide when Raducano herself was snapped in the sixth inning. Swiatek is the heavy favorite, and spent the better part of his 84 minutes pushing groundstrokes into the corners.
The result means Raducanu has now played four matches against top 10 opponents – namely Swiatek twice, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff – without winning a set. But, on the plus side, she just ran into her best tournament since Its a miracle feat From winning the US Open 18 months ago.
Raducanu has entered 24 events in that time without making much of an impression. Her previous best effort, and just another example of winning three matches at the same event, came in Seoul this past September, where she retired in the semi-final against Jelena Ostapenko with gluteal damage.
It seemed unlikely to be a raducano The circulation cycle of injuries and illnesses She will end up, temporarily at least, in Indian Wells, given that she arrived with a heavy strap on her wrists, as well as some lingering crowding. Recent bout of tonsillitis.
But this week, she said she tries to use adversity as motivation. Perhaps the pessimistic forecasts were working in her favour. After her first opponent, Danka Kovinic, self-destructed in a whirl of wild forehands, Radukano dispatched recent Australian Open semi-finalist Magda Linette in straight sets, then produced her best singles performance since that gilded run at the US Championships. open: A bold victory 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 On the 13th seed, Beatrice Haddad Maya.
This was planned for the next season, if Raducanu can stay on the field long enough for his development. She played what her former coach Mark Beachey calls “tidal tennis,” getting on and off the field as the rally demanded, and quickly opening up corners with a jump on the short ball.
Raducanu’s greatest asset is her athleticism, which – when her game flows – enables her to take the ball early and make up for her relative lack of stature, at least compared to Amazonian figures like recent Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. Maya Blacksmith is one of those giants, a 6-foot-tall lefty with bulging biceps, but Radocano outdoes her with her cuteness, playing Jack from the Beanstalk.
It takes physical preparation, confidence with the ball and mental stability to play this freestyle – all characteristics Raducanu has struggled to bring back together since her stunning reach to the top of the game. But she is clearly comfortable with her latest coach Sebastian Sachs, a serious-minded German with a fondness for data, and should leave the California desert feeling good in the coming weeks.
“I think I will be one of the best athletes on the Tour”
Raducanu’s three wins in Indian Wells may have boosted her five spots on the ranking ladder, to a projected figure of 72. But if she can report that she’s fit for Miami next week in Part II of the so-called “Sunshine Double,” she should be well positioned to continue. This little boom.
“I can take a positive week,” Raducano told the BBC after the match. “I think I’ve had some good wins earlier against some big opponents. I did a good two weeks of training in London. They paid off somewhat but at the end of the day two weeks of training just won’t cut it against world No. 1 at the moment.
“I’m looking forward to playing with her now that I have more time under my belt.
“Physically I feel this will be one of my biggest assets. I think I will be one of the best athletes on the Tour, and that will be a big part of my game.
“I would say there is a very long way to go, but I am definitely starting the right work now.”
Sadly, it seems unlikely that Radocanu’s near-accurate contemporary Jack Draper will be attending Miami. Suffering from very similar problems, in terms of the physical demands of regular tennis, Draper retired against world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz due to an abdominal strain.
said Draper, who addressed the problem during “my tennis over there.” defeating Andy Murray Monday night. “It’s just that side of the body that’s going to take a while and that’s something I have to accept.”
