Emma Raducanu through to third round after opponent Dayana Yastremska retires injured 4-0 down in first set; Cameron Norrie also progresses; you can watch Indian Wells live on Sky Sports plus over 80 tournaments a year, including the US Open, live on Sky Sports Tennis
Sunday 10 March 2024 11:33, UK
Emma Raducanu made it through to the third round at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after her opponent Dayana Yastremska retired injured.
The victory ensured back-to-back wins for the former US Open champion for the first time since Indian Wells last year.
Raducanu stormed into a 4-0 lead before 30th seed Yastremska pulled up in pain at the back of the court. After receiving medical treatment the Australian Open semi-finalist was forced to retire.
It means the 21-year-old will play Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka or Peyton Stearns in the third round on Monday, live on Sky Sports Tennis.
Raducanu had made a flying start and led 4-0 in the opening set when the Ukrainian 30th seed appeared to suffer an abdominal injury.
She immediately called for the physio but could not carry on, handing the Briton the win.
Raducanu may well have been victorious anyway had the match lasted the course as she looked impressive in the play that was possible.
She broke Yastremska's serve in the opening game with a sublime drop shot and then showed grit to save a break point in her first service game.
A second break came courtesy of a strong backhand before a routine service hold put her in control.
It was in that game that Raducanu won to love that Yastremska suffered the injury and it forced a second retirement against the former US Open champion in two meetings.
Raducanu now looks set to meet second-seed Sabalenka in the third round, which will test exactly where she is in her comeback from an injury-ravaged 2023.
British No 1 Cameron Norrie dispatched Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 6-4 to advance to the third round in California after 90 minutes.
It was a clinical performance by Norrie, who won the important moments as he hit fewer winners than his Italian opponent and the same amount of unforced errors.
He took early control, breaking in the fourth game and, then after saving break points, he served out the first set.
Sonego took a 2-0 lead early in the second, but Norrie wrestled back control, with five successive games putting him on the brink of victory.
The Italian rallied, though, claiming one break back when Norrie was serving for the match, but the Briton got the job done at the second attempt.
"Fortunate to be through, I don't think he played as well as he could but I'll take it," Norrie said on his on-court interview.
"I got sick in Rio so I have not been able to practise so much, so that's why it was nice just to be out there playing. You take it for granted sometimes.
"It's good memories coming here and the courts I really like, the tournament always starts again, I know I like to play well here."
Miles Maclagan on Sky Sports Tennis
"There's certainly room for improvement. His attitude and energy is always good which can then allow his performance to grow," he said of Norrie's performance.
"Getting through to the next round is key. He's lacking a bit of confidence right now, he's giving away more unforced errors and his game is about giving his opponent absolutely nothing and there were a few opportunities that he wouldn't have wanted to give Sonego.
"Those things improve as the wins come."
Norrie, the 2021 champion here, will next face eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz or Gael Monfils for a spot in the last 16.
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