Emma Raducano: Britain’s number one player shines in the opening match of the Indian Wells Championships

Emma Raducanu made a great start to her campaign in Indian Wells by recording a comprehensive straight sets win over Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova.

Raducano, ranked first in Britain, appeared smiling as she waved to the fans after her 6-1, 6-3 victory in the 1000 meters championship in California.

The 23-year-old, who was eliminated in the first round as the 25th seed, may face world number six Amanda Anisimova in the third round, if the American can overcome Russian Anna Blinkova.

After Raducanu’s second-round exit at the Australian Open in January, the 2021 US Open champion reached only the second final of her career in Cluj, but then failed to win a match in Doha or Dubai.

In a promising start to her Indian Wells campaign, she won 80% of the points off her first serve and conceded just six points over her four service games in a dominant first-set display.

The 86th-ranked Zakharova, 24, fought off a break point in the opening game of the second set, but Raducanu held her ground before forcing the breakout on the next opportunity.