2018 Indian Wells champion Naomi Osaka is off to a winning start to her first campaign in the desert as a mother, while Emma Raducanu also made a strong start in Indian Wells.
Osaka, who received a wildcard into this year’s Indian Wells edition, crushed qualifier Sara Errani 6-3 6-1.
Playing in Indian Wells for the first time since 2022, Osaka made a bit of a slow start as she got broken back in the third game. Down by an early break, Osaka managed to get the break back in the fourth game but again found herself down by a break after losing her serve in the fifth game.
From that moment on, Osaka put it in another gear as she earned back-to-back breaks in the sixth and eighth games – won the next four games – overturned the deficit and claimed the first set.
At the start of the second set, Osaka missed out on four break points in the first game but also saved two break points in the second game. After not allowing Errani to break her in the second game of the second set, Osaka won the next five games to seal her two-set in a very impressive way.
Naomi Osaka© Getty Images Sport – Michael Owens
In the Indian Wells second round, Osaka plays against No. 14 seed Liudmila Samsonova.
Raducanu also wins in Indian Wells
Raducanu, who was also awarded a wildcard into Indian Wells, handled the business routinely as well as the 2021 US Open champion saw off Rebeka Masarova 6-2 6-3.
Against Masarova, Raducanu came out firing as she earned early back-to-back breaks to open a 3-0 lead. In the fourth game, Masarova managed to get one break back but Raducanu clinched her third break in the seventh game for a 5-2 lead, before serving out for the first set in the following game.
The start of the second set started exactly the same as the first set as Raducanu clinched back-to-back breaks and had a 3-0 lead before Masarova got one break back in the fourth game. In the next couple of games, Raducanu didn’t allow Masarova any break points that would get her the second break back as well.
Up by a set and having a 5-3 lead in the second set, Raducanu put an end to the match by breaking Masarova in the game in which the Spaniard was serving to stay in the match.
Emma Raducanu© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
For a place in the Indian Wells third round, Raducanu will fight against 30th-seeded Dayana Yastremska.
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