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Emma Raducanu has taken to the practice courts in Indian Wells ahead of the highly-awaited WTA 1000 event in California. The Briton tennis star seems to have already gotten into the zone as she was seen smashing groundstrokes during an intense training session on Friday.
Raducanu will be itching to start competing again, having not played since her Australian Open second-round loss to Coco Gauff. She was set to participate in the ongoing ATX Open in Austin, before a case of tonsilitis forced her to withdraw shortly before the draw was made.
Now fit again, the 20-year-old was seen training under the shining sun at Indian Wells, ripping a few forehands and backhands.
You can watch the video of Emma Raducanu's training session here:
Raducanu was earlier granted a wildcard to participate in Indian Wells, but a few withdrawals meant that the World No. 80 was able to qualify for the main draw on merit through a rankings place without the need for a wildcard. She recently also received a main-draw wildcard to participate in the Miami Open, which begins soon after Indian Wells.
The 2021 US Open champion has only played two tournaments so far this season. Her ASB Classic campaign in Auckland was cut short midway through her Round of 16 match after she suffered an ankle injury. Raducanu was able to recover in time for the Australian Open, where she beat another rising star, Linda Fruhvirtova, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round before losing to Gauff.
Emma Raducanu will aim to regain higher WTA ranking with not many points to defend in Indian Wells and Miami
Currently ranked at No. 80, it will be important for Emma Raducanu to climb back up the rankings sooner rather than later, with the clay-court season quickly approaching before the French Open and Wimbledon. The fact that she does not have many points to defend in both Indian Wells and Miami should help her cause. However, the former World No. 10 will need to find form right away.
Raducanu lost in the Round of 32 to Petra Martic in Indian Wells last season, having beaten Caroline Garcia in the first round. She lost in the opening round in Miami, going down fighting to Katerina Siniakova. With only 100 combined points to defend at the Sunshine Double, Raducanu will fancy her chances of making an impact.
After Miami, Raducanu will begin her clay-court season at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, having already signed up for the event.
