“It was really rewarding”: Emma Raducanu sees signs of progress after difficult start to 2026

Emma Raducanu delivered one of her most composed performances of the early 2026 season, defeating qualifier Anastasia Zakharova 6-1, 6-3 to reach the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The British No. 1 controlled the match from the outset, producing a clinical display on return and capitalising on early opportunities to take charge of the contest.

The victory represents a timely response after a difficult stretch in the Middle East swing. Raducanu had suffered a first-round defeat to Antonia Ruzic in Dubai and was forced to retire against Camila Osorio in Qatar due to illness, leaving her searching for rhythm ahead of the first WTA 1000 event of the American hard-court swing.

Indian Wells also marks a period of transition in her coaching setup. Following her recent split from experienced coach Francisco Roig, Raducanu has reunited with Mark Petchey on a day-to-day basis during the tournament while continuing to work closely with hitting partner Alexis Canter as part of her support team.

Against Zakharova, Raducanu showed few signs of uncertainty. She opened with a strong service game, broke immediately, and quickly established control of the match, racing into a 3-0 lead before maintaining the pressure throughout a dominant first set.

Raducanu’s control of the opening set reflected a clear tactical focus on return games, an area she has recently emphasised in practice. The 2021 US Open champion repeatedly neutralised Zakharova’s serve, stepping inside the baseline and forcing errors as she dictated rallies.

After taking the first set comfortably, Raducanu maintained her composure in the second. Zakharova attempted to regroup, but a double fault in the seventh game handed Raducanu three break points. The Brit converted the second opportunity to establish a double-break advantage and move within touching distance of victory.

Zakharova briefly threatened a late response by breaking Raducanu as she attempted to serve out the match. However, the momentum quickly shifted again as Raducanu immediately broke back, sealing the win in straight sets to secure her place in the third round of the tournament.

Speaking after the match with Sky Sports, Raducanu emphasised how satisfying it was to see the work from the practice court translate into competition. “Yeah, it was a really good match. I'm so pleased with it. You know, it's not easy. I haven't played a match yet here, and my opponent's played three," the 2021 US Open champion said. "So you always know about that dynamic going in. But I was really pleased with the prep I'd done for the last week and felt like my game was heading in a better direction. So for me to have seen that proof on the match court, it was really rewarding, and I'm just really happy with it.”

Raducanu pointed specifically to improvements in her return game, an element she considers fundamental to her success. Throughout the match she created consistent pressure on Zakharova’s service games, generating multiple break opportunities and converting key moments efficiently.

She explained that recent training sessions had focused heavily on both serve and return, areas she believes can significantly alter the dynamic of her matches when functioning well. “That was a great kind of show of, I guess, my game today. I think I played really well, and it was nice to see the things that we've been working on on the practice court transfer," the former world No. 10 mentioned. "For me, returning is such a big strength of mine, and I think when I'm returning well, it makes me a different player to kind of play against compared to when I'm not."

"I feel like in the last couple months I've been a bit loose on return games and haven't quite found that rhythm. So I don't think it's perfect yet, but I think it's definitely a lot better than where I was feeling.”

Raducanu also acknowledged the support she received from the crowd in Stadium 4, where a diverse international audience created an energetic atmosphere during the match. “It feels incredible to see the British flag, to hear support from Chinese, Romanian, English, American. It's amazing, and I just feel so grateful to get this level of support. Playing out here in the States is somewhere that I've always really enjoyed playing, so to be coming here and feeling this amount of love, it really helps me when I'm playing and competing.”

Despite the convincing victory, Raducanu stressed that her current focus is not on immediate results but on rebuilding consistency in her game after a challenging period. Her next opponent could be Amanda Anisimova, a player who has developed into one of the most dangerous competitors on the tour in recent seasons, reaching multiple Grand Slam finals and capturing major WTA titles since their previous meetings.

Raducanu acknowledged that any potential clash would present a significant test, though she insisted her primary objective remains improving her own level rather than chasing immediate milestones. “I think I'm not necessarily aiming for the stars right now. I think I just want to be doing my game better and better. I think whatever I put on the court, if I apply myself like I did today, I think I'll be proud of myself and I'll be in a good place.”