Raducanu through as injury curse strikes Yastremska
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, seeded No.30, 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 No.2 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.
No.3 seed Coco Gauff, meanwhile, survived a scare against world No.47 Clara Burel, winning 2-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4).
Gauff looked to be heading out when she went a set and a break down but rallied and triumphed in a deciding set tie-break after coming back from 0-4 and 2-5 down.
Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka showed some of her best form since returning from maternity leave, dispatching No.14 seed Liudmila Samsonova 7-5 6-3.
It marks her first win over a top 20 player in almost two years.
