Rain rain go away and it seemingly will for Thursday at the 2024 Indian Wells Open with the Schedule now confirmed for Day Two of the action in Tennis Paradise featuring the conclusion of the games not finished on Wednesday as well as the end of the first round.
It is jam packed with our preview looking ahead to the leading talking points as the Indian Wells Open continues in California hopefully with no delays.
Raducanu, Osaka and Venus Williams among star names in action
It is a trio of returnees that flank the line-up on Thursday with Naomi Osaka set to play on the Stadium 1 show court in her return for the first time since she was left in tears after getting heckled by the crowd in California back in 2022.
A different player since then mainly as a person, Osaka was going through a lot mentally back in 2022 and since becoming a mother has become more calm and relaxed to the task of being a tennis player asif the block of time away from the sport has made her more carefree knowing nappies matter more than discussion over her not attending press conferences in Paris.
One of only a few of the returnees too to show a glimmer of hope in her return. She will face veteran Sara Errani third up on Stadium 1 having had a good run in particular in Doha recently and was unlucky as Karolina Pliskova withdrew from her Quarter-Final after meaning it could've been even better. Expecting to peak around Roland Garros to Wimbledon, Osaka is on schedule seemingly to do better than expected.
But from one player wanting results to another who said she doesn't care about them in Emma Raducanu. A late wildcard into this tournament, she plays on Stadium 2 against Rebeka Masarova first up to likely please the British crowd and Sky Sports' adoring coverage.
Raducanu had a good start back to tennis life, but that went down like a lead balloon in Doha where she was well beaten by Anhelina Kalinina. In particular the tact of Raducanu going to an event in Dubai and fulfilling her burgeoning sponsorship commitments seemed to rub some people up the wrong way. But fraught with complaints since she won the US Open, the only way she can end those is by winning games and she can do so here.
Venus Williams also continues on from her opener which will finally be completed. Sat at only 1-1 against Nao Hibino, she will resume that after Stan Wawrinka. While Caroline Wozniacki similarly will complete her opener.
No Nadal but Sumit Nagal?
Rafael Nadal somewhat unsurprisingly will not play Indian Wells again and has continued to have injury setbacks that blight him and mean that he will go into the clay court season with minimal matches under his belt.
But somewhat oddly and likely a legacy of there being three WTA matches already on the main court and for balance, Milos Raonic's opener continues to be on Stadium 1. But it won't be Nadal, it will be Indian ace Sumit Nagal. Yeah don't adjust your glasses. Gael Monfils, Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin among others also involved, that is the Day Two schedule.
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