‘I’ve just got to get stronger’ – Emma Raducanu reflects on shock Indian Wells exit
Emma Raducanu revealed she was plagued by a ‘tough’ physical issue in her shock Indian Wells loss, but “should be good” to compete at the Miami Open next week.
US Open champion Raducanu earned her first ever Indian Wells win over Caroline Garcia but fell to a disappointing third round defeat to Petra Martic.
Raducanu lost 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 5-7 in two hours and 49 minutes as she vied to win consecutive WTA Tour matches for just the second time since her historic Flushing Meadows victory.
This loss has only compounded her challenging start to the new year and her first full season on the Tour further.
She suffered a heavy defeat in her first match of the year and was forced to withdraw from both Mexican swing events, the Zapopan Open and the Monterrey Open with a leg injury.
Similarly, she also battled through blistering at the Australian Open in her second round loss against Danka Kovinic.
Whilst the 19-year-old British starlet has picked up some impressive results, namely against 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens in her opening ‘Happy Slam’ fixture, she has struggled to consolidate her impressive first round wins.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Raducanu said “I think it’s just part of not playing and having so much stop-start and having five, six days to prepare for matches and then playing at that intensity.
“It was a tough one not being able to serve full out so I was having to work so hard just to hold. I’ve just got to get stronger.
“I’ve had it for the last few days, just a product of training hard and probably the last match was pretty intense too and it didn’t settle down.
“When you are crossing your fingers to hold serve every time, it’s tough. I couldn’t really drive up and I was kind of struggling to turn and reach. The margins were so small.
“I should be good for Miami, for sure.”
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