Raducanu Dominates Zakharova at Indian Wells | WTA News
INDIAN WELLS, CA – – Emma Raducanu advanced to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open with a commanding victory over Anastasia Zakharova, setting up a potentially challenging encounter with sixth-seeded Amanda Anisimova. Raducanu dispatched Zakharova 6-1, 6-3, displaying a level of play she believes signals a return to form.
The US Open champion, currently ranked 24th in the world, looked sharp from the outset, winning 80% of points on her first serve and dominating the opening set. Raducanu’s performance was a marked improvement from recent results, including a second-round exit at the Australian Open in and subsequent struggles in Doha and Dubai.
“I think my game was in a really great place,” Raducanu told BBC Sport. “I hadn’t necessarily felt so good for the last month, so I’m really pleased with the function we did for the last week and just for it to transfer on the match court like that. It gives you huge confidence that you are doing the right thing. Today’s match was a great display for myself of how I want to be playing, of what I want to be feeling like when I’m on the court.”
Raducanu’s path to the third round was eased by a first-round bye, a benefit of her seeding. She capitalized on the opportunity, demonstrating control and precision against Zakharova. The second set saw a slight resistance from the 86th-ranked Russian, who managed to save a break point in the opening game, but Raducanu quickly asserted her dominance, holding serve and securing the decisive break to close out the match.
However, the road ahead becomes significantly more difficult. Raducanu will face Amanda Anisimova, provided the American overcomes Anna Blinkova in her second-round match. Anisimova secured her place in the third round with a hard-fought 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Blinkova on , rallying after dropping the first set.
The head-to-head record between Raducanu and Anisimova favors the British player, 2-1, but recent form suggests a close contest. Anisimova has been steadily improving her game, reaching the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open last year. The season has seen Anisimova aiming for her first final on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz.
Anisimova’s victory over Blinkova was characterized by a dramatic shift in momentum. After a tight first set featuring seven breaks of serve, Anisimova stormed back, winning the final nine games of the match. She demonstrated superior efficiency on serve, winning 69.2% of her first-serve points and 41.7% of her second-serve points, compared to Blinkova’s 52.1% and 17.4% respectively.
The match also marked a positive turn for Anisimova, snapping a three-match losing streak at Indian Wells and improving her overall head-to-head record against Blinkova to 2-0. This is Anisimova’s seventh appearance in the Indian Wells main draw.
Raducanu has also made a coaching change, welcoming back Mark Petchey into her coaching box for the tournament. Petchey’s return is currently understood to be in a part-time capacity, as Raducanu continues to navigate her coaching situation following a disrupted off-season.
The potential clash between Raducanu and Anisimova represents a significant test for both players. For Raducanu, it’s an opportunity to build on her encouraging win against Zakharova and demonstrate the consistency she’s been seeking. For Anisimova, it’s a chance to continue her upward trajectory and potentially reach the round of 16 at Indian Wells for the first time.
Looking ahead, should Raducanu advance, she could face Victoria Mboko in the fourth round. Anisimova’s potential path includes challenges from Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, Cori Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, Iga Swiatek, and Elena Rybakina further down the line, highlighting the competitive depth of the tournament.
The outcome of the Anisimova-Raducanu match will undoubtedly be closely watched, offering a compelling early-season indicator of both players’ prospects for the remainder of .