Emma Raducanu rolls on at Indian Wells as Dayana Yastremska cries off injured
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.
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.
Meanwhile, Jodie Burrage will miss the next “few months” of the season after undergoing wrist surgery.
The British number two revealed the news on Instagram, posting a picture from her hospital bed with her left arm in a sling.
Burrage suffered the injury prior to a first-round qualifying loss in San Diego a fortnight ago and took the difficult decision to go under the knife.
“Little update: I don’t know where to start,” wrote Burrage. “My first practice in San Diego, I hit one backhand and felt something pop in my left wrist. After advice from multiple doctors and surgeons, surgery was the best option.
“Making the decision to get my 4th surgery was brutal…accepting it will take time.
“But smiling here because everything went well yesterday (and I was high on drugs), and the recovery process can start.
“It won’t be easy but I’ve got people around me who I know will help get me through it. Thank you to everyone who continues to support me and hopefully see you in a few months.”
It is rough timing for Burrage, who had been held back by repeated ankle problems before breaking into the top 100 for the first time last year.
The 24-year-old is currently ranked 86th, only one place below her career high, but will now tumble down the standings and is likely to miss the grass-court season, where last year she reached the final of the WTA Tour event in Nottingham.
