Emma Raducanu will begin her 2024 Indian Wells Open campaign against a qualifier, taking on Rebeka Masarova from Spain.
Raducanu looked pretty decent last year in Indian Wells because the court played nicely for her. It's a higher bounce, which gives her time to really unload with her shots, but it's not that fast, leaving her vulnerable against some of the bigger hitters.
That might be crucial for this matchup because Masarova is one of those big hitters who can crush opponents on her day. She's been rather decent in the qualifiers and will certainly enter the match in a better rhythm.
Whether that actually translates to a win remains to be seen. On pure talent, Raducanu is above the Spaniard, but as Raducanu recently found out, talent alone doesn't win matches.
They're both quite young players, so it's not a huge surprise that they haven't faced each other so far on the WTA Tour. Both subscribe to the attacking style of tennis and do it rather well, though Raducanu seems to be more skilled at it.
Masarova is a great hitter, but like Elena Rybakina, she needs things to be a certain way. She can be pushed around, and that's what Raducanu will try to do. The court will ensure us a lot of great rallies, so the player who is more consistent and has fewer errors will likely win.
| Emma Raducanu | Rebeka Masarova | |
| 0 | H2H | 0 |
| 250 | Rank | 96 |
| 21 | Age | 24 |
| 3-4 | 2024 W/L | 2-6 |
| 101-53 | Career W/L | 206-11 |
I do think Raducanu has a fair shot at winning this match despite some things not going her way. After a few matches back on the WTA Tour, we may see her deliver a good performance on a court that should suit her. Masarova could beat her, but I'm going to side with Raducanu.
Prediction: Emma Raducanu to win in three sets.