Photo credit: BNP Paribas Open Facebook
It was Emma Raducanu’s return, but Moyuka Uchijima took center stage with a committed close in Indian Wells.
In her BNP Paribas Open debut, Uchijima reeled off 10 points in a row sealing a 6-3, 6-2 sweep of Raducanu today.
World No. 52 Uchijima broke serve five times in a one hour, 23-minute win over 2021 US Open champion Raducanu to set up a second-round clash vs. 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff.
The third-seeded Gauff enjoyed a first-round bye.
The 55th-ranked Raducanu was playing her first match since her Dubai second-round loss last month where she broke down in tears after spotting a stalker in the crowd. Coming out of the blocks quickly, Raducanu broke to open in building a 2-0 lead.
"I didn't have what happened in Dubai in my head at all today," Raducanu told the media in Indian Wells. "I think, if anything, like a bit of a lack of preparation on the tennis court, playing someone who played pretty good in these conditions, I mean, extremely awkward in the wind here.
"But I think it depends what sorts of frame of mind you're in. I think all the players will say, you know, if they're feeling good, like, it's great. If they're not, like, it can be more difficult and challenging. You have to just overcome whatever hurdles that come your way and just keep going forward."
On a breezy day where winds were gusting up to 18 mph, Uchijima was hitting with more topspin, which gave her both a bit more control—-and the ability to step in and crack some drives down the line.
Uchijima broke back for 2-all then broke again to go up 4-2.
Driving the ball into the corners, Uchijima kept Raducanu on the run and commanded the center of the court.
Uchijima snatched a one-set lead on the strength of three service breaks then broke immediately to start the second set.
When Raducanu tried stepping in to take the offensive her flatter drives sometimes sailed long.
Raducanu pressured in the sixth game of the second set. The Briton earned three break points, but could not find the finishing shot.
Standing tall through a tense five-deuce game, Uchijima saved all three break points holding for 4-2.
A disconsolate Raducanu tried to shake off that near-miss, but stumbled in the seventh game. Raducanu slapped her fourth double fault, surrendering serve at love as Uchijima went up 5-2.
Uchijima tore through 10 points in a row to close.