Emma Raducanu digs deep to reach last 16 at Indian Wells

Emma Raducanu advanced to the last 16 of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells for the first time as she battled her way to a 6-1 2-6 6-4 win over 13th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Raducanu, who has overcome a wrist injury and illness, had to dig deep in a contest lasting more than two hours before claiming a win which ranks as her best since her 2021 US Open triumph.

Raducanu’s serve was in full flow as she cruised through the opening set inside 34 minutes, but it deserted her in the second, the Briton double faulting four times as Haddad Maia turned the tide and Raducanu lost her first set of the tournament.

The world number 77 saved a break point to hold for 2-2 in the decider before going on to break the Brazilian for a 4-3 lead.

She set up two further break points, but Haddad Maia made her serve it out, which she duly did.

Speaking in an on-court interview broadcast by Amazon Prime Video, Raducanu said: “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.”

Raducanu will play world number one Iga Swiatek in the next round, after the Pole overcame Bianca Andreescu 6-3 7-6 (1).

They have met once before, on clay in Stuttgart last spring, with Raducanu pushing the 21-year-old on her favourite surface.

Swiatek said: “I think, after Stuttgart, I just know how her shots feel on the racket, because before I haven’t even practised with her.

“So it helps that way but, on the other hand, it’s great because we are playing on hard court, and there was clay, but actually this surface is slower. So I think I have to really take care of the tactics anyway, and we’ll see.”

Meanwhile, it was announced on Tuesday that Raducanu has committed to the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham this summer. The British number one had been due to make her debut at the tournament, which begins on June 19, last year but withdrew through injury.