Emma Raducanu Faces Tough Loss at BNP Paribas Open
Emma Raducanu made her return to competitive tennis at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, but unfortunately, she was defeated by Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima with a score of 6-3, 6-2 in the first round. This match marked Raducanu’s first appearance since she dealt with a distressing stalking incident during the Dubai Open last month.
The former US Open champion, now 22, is under heightened security measures in California following an unsettling encounter with a stalker, who managed to approach her on two separate occasions while she was alone in Dubai. This situation left Raducanu visibly shaken, and she had even been seen in tears behind the umpire’s chair during a second-round match against Karolina Muchova.
In her match against Uchijima, Raducanu began positively, even taking an early break chance in the opening game to establish a 2-0 lead. However, as the match progressed, she struggled to maintain her momentum amidst the blustery conditions that characterized the day.
- Uchijima quickly countered by winning four consecutive games after breaking Raducanu’s serve twice.
- Raducanu showed resilience, breaking back to win the seventh game, but faltered again, falling behind 3-5.
- The Japanese player secured the first set when Raducanu sent a return long, showcasing Uchijima’s growing confidence on the court.
As the second set commenced, Raducanu appeared to be moving well initially, but soon found herself in trouble, facing multiple break points that Uchijima effectively converted. Despite Raducanu’s attempts to come to the net and apply pressure, Uchijima’s powerful shots were proving decisive, granting her a 2-0 lead.
Although Raducanu managed to save a break point with a strong return, she could not maintain that momentum, ultimately trailing 4-2 after a series of unforced errors. As Uchijima continued to assert her dominance, she reached match point after a wayward shot from Raducanu, and she closed out the match following another long return from the British player.
In the men’s tournament, Great Britain’s Jacob Fearnley also faced a challenging match, succumbing to Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, with a scoreline of 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. Despite battling the windy conditions, the 18-year-old Fonseca, who received a wildcard entry, was down 3-1 in the deciding set but rallied to win five consecutive games. This victory marked his second ATP Masters 1000 match win and his first on hard courts. Fonseca now advances to face British number one Jack Draper, the 13th seed.
