Emma Raducanu draws inspiration from fellow US Open champion Daniil Medvedev to close out "dogfight" against Beatriz Haddad Maia in Indian Wells
Emma Raducanu registered the second top 15 win of her career on Monday, taking out Beatriz Haddad Maia in three sets in the third round of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
After taking the opener 6-1, the former US Open champion suffered a drop in intensity, leading to the Brazilian winning the second set 2-6. With everything to play for in the decider, Raducanu found her mojo just in time to close out the contest 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
Speaking at her press conference afterwards, the 20-year-old admitted that her focus dropped just a bit in the second set, following which she had to up the ante in the final set. Thankfully, Raducanu had seen Daniil Medvedev do the same the previous night, when he beat Ilya Ivashka 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 under similar conditions.
Drawing inspiration from the Russian, the former World No. 10 knew what she had to do prevail in the "dogfight" - treat the final set as a single set shootout and put everything on the line.
"I started off really strongly, and a small dip in intensity or focus can just lead to a 6-2 set, as you saw. Yeah, you just have to reset in the third, and it's really just a shootout, and it's almost easier to just think, okay, like one set, everything you've got."
Raducanu added:
"Really go for it. But you see it happen a lot in tennis. Like, I saw it last night with Medvedev. Yeah, I guess took maybe some inspiration from him doing that. Yeah, I feel like it is quite common."
Overall, Emma Raducanu was pleased with the level of tennis she displayed on the night against her higher-ranked opponent, stating that there were some good moments that made her feel confident about her own game.
"I think I played a really high level at some points of the match. I think that I played extremely well in the first set and in the third set, as well. There were some really good points and moments. I think overall the level increased in the third, and it was a battle from both of us. Yeah, I'm pretty pleased with just being on the match court."
"Physically, I actually feel pretty good" - Emma Raducanu satisfied with current level of physical fitness
Emma Raducanu was happy with her current level of physical fitness as well, remarking that she and her team were making sure that her wrists were managed properly to prevent further injuries and that she was doing everything off the court to keep her body conditioned.
"It's nice. I mean, physically I actually feel pretty good. I mean, I have been managing my wrists, obviously. But that's something that I'm continuing to manage, and I'm doing everything off the court to try and make them in the best possible place to compete. So far we are on top of it. So, yeah, I'm able to do well out there."
Up next, Emma Raducanu will lock horns with either Iga Swiatek or Bianca Andreescu in the Round of 16 at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open.