Emma Raducanu Set to Face Coco Gauff at Indian Wells
Emma Raducanu is gearing up for a challenging matchup against Coco Gauff at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament, provided she can first overcome Moyuka Uchijima in her initial match. This will be Raducanu’s first appearance since a distressing stalking incident that occurred during her time in the Middle East.
The 22-year-old British tennis star was left shaken after a known stalker approached her at her last match in Dubai, leading to a moment of extreme fear where she was visibly upset and struggled to breathe. In light of this troubling experience, Raducanu has reportedly been offered enhanced security measures at Indian Wells, often referred to as “the fifth slam.” She is scheduled to face world No. 52 Uchijima in the first round, either on Wednesday or Thursday.
If she successfully navigates past the Japanese player, Raducanu will then encounter No. 3 seed Gauff. Both players made headlines as teenagers; Gauff burst onto the scene at just 15 years old when she famously defeated Venus Williams at Wimbledon. However, their paths since then have diverged significantly, with Gauff now sitting 52 places ahead in the world rankings following her maiden Grand Slam victory at the 2023 US Open—two years after Raducanu’s stunning title win at the same event.
Raducanu’s Recent Ordeal
Following her harrowing experience in Dubai, Raducanu returned to her home in the UK. The incident involved a man who had allegedly stalked her across multiple countries, and he approached her on the street exhibiting what authorities described as “fixated behavior.” To make matters worse, this individual later appeared mere meters away from her during her second-round match against Karolina Muchova. Overwhelmed with fear, Raducanu broke down in tears and pointed him out to the security team that had been assigned to her after the prior day’s encounter.
The stalker was subsequently removed and detained. Raducanu decided to drop charges against him after he agreed to sign an undertaking promising not to contact or come near her again.
A New Coaching Dynamic
In addition to her on-court challenges, Raducanu is also navigating changes in her coaching setup. Following the departure of Nick Cavaday, who had been with Raducanu since late 2023 due to health issues, she has been on the lookout for a new coach. However, sources indicate that she is taking her time in making a permanent selection, having experienced a tumultuous history of coaching changes after her US Open success.
Despite this, Raducanu has secured her new fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura, who has previously worked with tennis greats like Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka, on a permanent basis. Currently, she has Tom Welsh, an academy coach from the LTA’s Loughborough academy, assisting her on a temporary basis in California. Welsh has prior touring experience, having worked with Leylah Fernandez and was part of the team that supported British player Henry Searle during his triumph at the Wimbledon juniors in 2023. However, he is not considered a candidate for a full-time role.
Challenges for British Players at Indian Wells
The main draw of Indian Wells will commence on Wednesday, with matches starting at 7 PM UK time. British No. 1 and Raducanu’s Billie Jean King Cup teammate, Katie Boulter, is seeded in the draw, allowing her to bypass the first round. She is set to face the winner of the match between Irina-Camelia Begu and Ann Li in the second round. If all goes according to plan, her projected opponent in the third round is former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
On the men’s side, Jacob Fearnley, who is currently ranked as British No. 3, will take on Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca in his opening match, with the winner going on to meet Jack Draper. Meanwhile, Cam Norrie will be looking to rebound from a disappointing first-round exit in Acapulco as he faces Italy’s Luca Nardi.
