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Match details
Fixture: (11) Emma Raducanu vs Petra Martic.
Date: 13 March 2022.
Tournament: BNP Paribas Open.
Round: Third round (Round of 32).
Venue: Indian Wells, USA.
Category: WTA 1000.
Surface: Hardcourt.
Prize money: $8,369,455.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video.
Emma Raducanu vs Petra Martic preview
2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu will take on Croatia's Petra Martic in the third round of the 2022 Indian Wells Open on Sunday.
Raducanu's start to the year has been less than ideal. Elena Rybakina handed the teenager a 6-0, 6-1 beatdown in her first match of the year at the Sydney Tennis Classic. At the Australian Open, she defeated 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens in the opening round, but lost to Danka Kovinic in her next match.
Raducanu was the top seed at her next tournament in Guadalajara. She was up against Daria Saville in the first round and the duo played for almost three and a half hours, the longest WTA match of the year so far. However, the contest was left unfinished as the Brit had to retire towards the end of the match due to an injury.
Raducanu kicked off her campaign in Indian Wells with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 win over Caroline Garcia.
Petra Martic, meanwhile, made a losing start to the year, recording consecutive first-round exits at the Melbourne Summer Set and the Australian Open. She then reached the second round in St. Petersburg and Monterrey.
At the Indian Wells Open, Martic defeated Anna Bondar in the opening round. She faced off against 2021 Roland Garros semifinalist Tamara Zidansek in the second round and defeated her 7-5, 7-6 (8).
The 31-year-old has now won consecutive matches for the first time this season and will aim to keep the momentum going.
Emma Raducanu vs Petra Martic head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between the two players, so the head-to-head stands at 0-0.
Emma Raducanu vs Petra Martic prediction
This is set to be a clash between youth and experience. Martic is now a veteran of the tour and has troubled plenty of top players in the past.
For Raducanu, expectations were sky high following her triumph in New York last year, but the teenager's results since then haven't lived up to her potential.
Raducanu displayed tremendous grit in her win over Garcia and it would've given her a much-needed confidence boost. However, whether that will be enough to trouble Martic remains to be seen.
The Croat's game is well-rounded and she has an array of shots to outwit her opponents. With powerful and steady groundstrokes, a decent serve, and great volleying skills, she's able to do it all quite well.
Despite being competent in all aspects of the game, Martic hasn't tasted much success on the biggest stages of tennis.
On the other hand, Raducanu and her free-swinging game led her to a Grand Slam title rather early in her career. The teenager is a good mover around the court and can return quite well. Her backhand is her biggest weapon and she uses it to dictate points.
If the Brit can play at a high level like she did against Garcia, she should be able to outmuscle Martic and advance to the fourth round.
Prediction: Emma Raducanu to win in three sets.
