Indian Wells: 'She played unbelievable tennis' - Aryna Sabalenka hails Emma Raducanu after edging tough battle
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByOli Gent
Published 11/03/2024 at 22:52 GMT
Britain's Emma Raducanu succumbed to a 6-3 7-5 defeat to Aryna Sabalenka in the third round at Indian Wells. Raducanu had impressed in her opening two matches in California, but she was met by a pumped-up world No. 2, who had saved four match points in her previous round against Peyton Stearns. Elsewhere, Coco Gauff triumphed over Lucia Bronzetti.
Top 5 shots 2024 Australian Open - The best shots from women's singles champion Aryna Sabalenka
Emma Raducanu battled bravely, but she could not do enough to prevent a 6-3 7-5 defeat to Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells.
The Briton had shown good form in California after a comfortable straight-sets win in her opener over Rebeka Masarova, and she was 4-0 up in the second round against Dayana Yastremska, the 30th seed, before the Ukrainian was forced to retire with an illness.
It earned Raducanu a first-ever showdown with Sabalenka, the world No. 2, in the round of 32 in the Coachella Valley.
And Sabalenka, the runner-up at this event last year, had to fight tooth and nail to battle past the Brit, who is still yet to beat a top-10 ranked player in her career.
In the run-up the 'Sunshine Swing', Sabalenka had crashed out in the opening round of the Dubai Open, before having to save four match points in her previous round of this event against Peyton Stearns, but she dug deep to see off a spirited Raducanu in straight sets.
Speaking on court afterwards, Sabalenka said: "It was a tough match. She [Raducanu] played unbelievable tennis.
"I’m super happy with the level today and super happy to get through this round. You guys [the crowd] brought the best atmosphere. Thank you so much for the support. I enjoyed playing in front of you.”
Sabalenka broke into a 5-2 lead in the opening set, but Raducanu rallied, despite facing set points on her serve in the following game.
The Brit, now ranked at world No. 250, won eight of the next nine points to re-establish her chances at the end of the first set, and she forced break point opportunities as Sabalenka sought to serve it out, but the reigning Australian Open champion showed her resilience to get the job done in 38 minutes.
Raducanu kept fighting, but mistakes were creeping into her game as Sabalenka’s power began to pay dividends as the pair traded breaks in the middle of the second set, but it was the 14-time titleist who took her fourth match point to see herself into the last 16.
Elsewhere, home favourite Coco Gauff found a way past Lucia Bronzetti to earn her place in the fourth round with a 6-2 7-6(5) victory.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/01/28/3875156-78736053-2560-1440.jpg)
'It'd be surprising if she didn't win at least 2, 3, 4 more' - McEnroe on Sabalenka
The No. 3 seed’s serve was again under fire in the early exchanges as she staved off nine break points in her first three service games, but she came through and will face the winner of former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka and Elise Mertens, the 24th seed, in the last 16.
- - -
Stream the 2024 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement