Emma Raducanu enters Indian Wells with an eye on WTA Finals


Emma Raducanu enters Indian Wells with an eye on WTA Finals

Emma Raducanu

After stunning the tennis world by winning the 2021 US Open, Emma Raducanu has managed to attract all the eyeballs over the past few weeks. The British girl will now get back to the WTA tour, after a much-deserved break.

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Raducanu will now been seen at the upcoming Indian Wells tournament, where she will be keen on winning the BNP Paribas Open for the first time in her young career.

Besides winning the title in California, the 18-year-old will also have an outside chance to making the cut for WTA Finals in Mexico, next month.

Currently, the Canadian born player is ranked No.22 in the WTA rankings, with 2558 points. A win at Indian Wells would push her further up to 12th place, with 1000 additional points. In the process, Raducanu can even surpass four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.

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However, much will also depend on how the other players who are in potential contention to make the WTA Finals in Mexico perform.

“I don’t feel absolutely any pressure. I’m still only 18 years old. I’m just having a free swing at anything that comes my way. That’s how I faced every match here in the States.  It got me this trophy, so I don’t think I should change anything,” the teenager explained a few weeks ago.

If Raducanu can stick to her fearless attitude, we could be in for a surprise.

Tough Draw for Raducanu

Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu

Although the 18-year-old will be confident of her chances at the BNP Paribas Open, she will be tested from the second round itself. While Raducanu will face either Maria Camila Osorio or Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the second round, she is likely to come up against her idol Simona Halep in the third round.

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Furthermore, the 2021 US Open champion is also placed in the same half of the draw as former champion Victoria Azarenka. WTA stars Petra Kvitova, Elina Svitolina and Iga Swiatek too are floating in the Brit’s half.

Also read: ‘If Novak Djokovic doesn’t get fully vaccinated, then he can’t play the 2022 Australian Open,’ warns Victorian Mayer Daniel Andrews