Aryna Sabalenka barely survived her first match in Indian Wells, so how will her second one against Emma Raducanu go?
It's been a very interesting Indian Wells for both of these players so far. Raducanu played really well in the first round and won her match comfortably. The same is true for the second match she played, but she advanced after Dayana Yastremska's early retirement.
Things were a bit different for Sabalenka, who had a first-round BYE. She had a lot of problems in her second-round match, as she needed to save four match points to even find herself in the third. She did it, so now let's see whether she'll have similar problems against Raducanu.
Head-to-head:
Raducanu and Sabalenka have never faced each other on the WTA Tour so far, which likely benefits Sabalenka more. She has a pretty powerful playstyle that catches many players off guard the first time they play against her.
It's somewhat of a surprise to see balls fly as quickly towards you, and it certainly takes some time to get used to. Raducanu plays similarly aggressively, but she's not on the same level as Sabalenka.
She can be at times, so the Belarusian will certainly face some tricky moments, but I don't think she will be overwhelmed by them. There are stronger and more consistent hitters on Tour.
| Aryna Sabalenka | Emma Raducanu | |
| 0 | H2H | 0 |
| 2 | Rank | 250 |
| 25 | Age | 21 |
| 11-2 | 2024 W/L | 3-4 |
| 371-176 | Career W/L | 101-53 |
Prediction:
The X factor in this match is the status of Sabalenka's ankle. She twisted it in her previous match and admitted to feeling bad immediately afterward. Ultimately, she shook it off and continued her match, but it might impact her in this match.
There is a minor chance that she doesn't even play the match, but if she does, it's definitely something to keep an eye on. I don't see a way it doesn't impact her, and I'll side with Raducanu for that reason only.
Prediction: Emma Raducanu to win in two sets.
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