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Raducanu discounts Dubai drama in California loss

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Emma Raducanu absorbed a 6-3, 6-2 opening loss at the Indian Wells Masters to Moyuka Uchijima on Thursday but said her recent Dubai stalking incident was not preying on her mind.

The Brit who was intimidated by a stalker fan last month in the UAE  which resulted in a restraining order against the man, said her mind was strictly on business during her Californian desert defeat.

“I didn’t have what happened in Dubai in my head at all today,” the 2021 US Open champion, now ranked 55th, said.

“(It was) a lack of preparation on the tennis court, playing someone who played pretty good in these conditions, It was extremely awkward in the wind here.”

Raducanu is also trialling another new coach, though she and 49-year-old Slovak Vlado Platenik only began their collaboration a day before her match. 

“You have to just overcome whatever hurdles that come your way and just keep going forward,” Raducanu said of her defeat.

After reaching the Australian Open third round in January, the British no. 2 has played six matches, winning one in Dubai.

“It was tough conditions, and a difficult ball from my opponent,” she said. “I tried to be aggressive, I tried to make the ball. 

“But I guess it didn’t work today.”

The 22-year-old remains optimistic that the latest in her revolving door of coaches will be a keeper.

“A lot has happened since Australia. It’s good that I have someone who is very experienced here. 

“We’ll see how the work goes and how we get on as well on and off the court and the methods and everything.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes. I just need to keep trying to put one foot in front of the other and not look back too much.”

Dubai

Andreeva sister showdown ended by injury

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Mirra Andreeva advanced 6-2, 6-0 on Wednesday at the WTA Stuttgart event when her big sister Erika was forced to quit their match with a right knee injury.

Her 17-year-old sibling advanced to the last 16 on the indoor clay in this German car-making capital in 41 minutes,

Erika, a lucky loser from qualifying, held the edge in the sister series after a Tour win last autumn in Wuhan.

She needed a visit from the trainer for her strapped knee at the first changeover of the match and was never in with a chance against her sister, ranked seventh in the world.

Mirra, winner of back-to-back 1000-level titles this season in Dubai and Indian Wells, said her 20-year-old sibling led her into tennis

“”She started playing some tournaments and she showed me the way. Because of her, it was easier for me to start playing bigger tournaments right away.”

Mirra said it felt strange facing her close relative. “I honestly have weird emotions,. I should be a little bit happy that I won the match, but still I’m super sad it ended like that.”

The win came on the birthday of Mirra’s coach Conchita Martinez, who was serenaded by the crowd post-match.

Main photo:-Erika and Mirra Andreeva – by WTATennis.com

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Kasatkina confirms move to Australia

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Daria Kastakina will make an immediate move to Australia and take over the title as national No. 1 as a result.

The 12th-ranked WTA player announced on social media that she has gained permanent residence in Oz; the Russian-born 27-year-old has based herself in Dubai and Spain for the last several seasons.

“I am delighted to let you all know that my application for permanent residency has been accepted by the Australian Government,” Kasatkina posted. 

“Australia is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming and a place where I feel totally at home. I love being in Melbourne and look forward to making my home there.

She has stayed well away from Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, fearful that her antiwar stance and gay lifestyle would make life dangerous.

“I will always have respect and fond appreciation for my roots, but I am thrilled to start this new chapter in my career and my life under the Australian flag. Thank you all for your understanding and continued support.”

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Andreeva arrives among the elite with IW title win

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Mirra Andreeva stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday, winning her second consecutive WTA 1000-level title in less than a month.

The Indian Wells upset by the 17-year-old backed up the youngster’s Dubai title barely a fortnight ago; victory takes her to sixth in the rankings on Monday..

Andreeva held her nerve in a tight showdown, losing the opening set and drawing a warning for firing balls into the stands in anger.

But she re-grouped in the second, breaking for a 2-1 lead as she converted after wasting her first eight break points against the top seed. She levelled the set with her fifth ace, storming into the deciding chapter.

Andreeva broke to start and end the set for a title victory in just over two hours.

She extended her match win streak to 12 in a row as she picked up a third career title after facing Sabalenka for the third time this season.

Andreeva is the third youngest player to win the Indian Wells title after Martina Hingis in 1998 and Serena Williams (1999) and youngest finalist here since Kim Clijsters in 2001.

Andreeva, who also beat world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in her sprint to the title, leads the WTA with 19 wins this season.

“Last but not least, I’d like to thank myself for fighting til the end and always believing in me. For never quitting,” she said at the trophy presentation.

“I was running like a rabbit today because Aryna, she keeps sending bullets,” the winner added.

Sabalenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, accepted defeat with good grace, joking about the much smaller runner-up trophy she received.

“I kind of have a love hate relationship with this place,” the 2023 finalist said.

“I’ll just put this trophy on top of another one and pretend it’s the winners one.. similar size.”

Main photo:- 17 year old Mirra Andreeva celebrates winning IW title – by ISF Ltd

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