Emma Raducanu through as injury puts early end to Dayana Yastremska challenge
Stats Perform
March 9, 2024 03:57 MYT
March 9, 2024 03:57 MYT
Emma Raducanu advanced into the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after her opponent Dayana Yastremska retired injured after just four games.
Raducanu had made a flying start and led 4-0 in the opening set when the Ukrainian 30th seed appeared to suffer an abdominal injury.
She immediately called for the physio but could not carry on, handing the Briton the win.
Emma Raducanu advances to R3 after Yastremska retires at 4-0 in the first set.#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/XCg3GsjJQj
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 9, 2024
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Raducanu may well have been victorious anyway had the match lasted the course as she looked impressive in the play that was possible.
She broke Yastremska’s serve in the opening game with a sublime drop shot and then showed grit to save a break point in her first service game.
A second break came courtesy of a strong backhand before a routine service hold put her in control.
It was in that game that Raducanu won to love that Yastremska suffered the injury and it forced a second retirement against the former US Open champion in two meetings.
Raducanu now looks set to meet second seed and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, which will test exactly where the 21-year-old is in her comeback from an injury-ravaged 2023.