Raducanu Falls to Sabalenka in Indian Wells Third Round

British tennis player Emma Raducanu suffered a straight-sets defeat against Belarusian world number two Aryna Sabalenka in the third round at Indian Wells.

Raducanu, who had reached the fourth round in California last year, was beaten 6-3, 7-5 by the two-time major winner Sabalenka as she continues her comeback journey.

Ranked 250th in the world and facing an injury-disrupted 2023, the 21-year-old received a wildcard entry into the tournament.

Reflecting on her performance, Raducanu described her week as a “good success,” highlighting her improved on-court demeanor and hunger to play.

Her second-round victory over Dayana Yastremska, who retired due to illness, marked her first back-to-back wins since last year’s Indian Wells.

The 2021 US Open champion returned to the tour in January after undergoing wrist and ankle surgeries during an eight-month absence.

Despite recent struggles, Raducanu remains focused on developing her game this year.

Facing Sabalenka, who had recently defended her Australian Open title, Raducanu showed signs of progress.

While Sabalenka claimed the first set with a single break of serve, Raducanu fought back, creating opportunities to break her opponent’s serve in the second set.

Ultimately, Sabalenka secured victory with a 6-5 lead in the second set, closing out the match on her fourth match point.

Raducanu’s resilience and determination were evident as she fought hard until the end, despite missing multiple break point opportunities.