LOS ANGELES – Emma Raducanu said that she uses her injury setbacks as on-court fuel, as she returned from a right-wrist issue to beat Danka Kovinic 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of Indian Wells on Thursday.
The 20-year-old Briton has suffered from a torrent of health issues of late.
They include an ankle injury leading up to January’s Australian Open, tonsillitis that forced her to withdraw before last week’s Austin Open and the wrist problem, which shortened her 2022 season.
“I just love competing even when you are fighting through it,” she told reporters when asked how she stays positive amid the health struggles.
“Having something that you’re going through gives you in some ways more incentive. I’ve got to be aggressive, I’ve got to dominate.
“I just find a way to use it to my advantage as much as I can.”
Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open, showed a lot of heart at the tournament on Thursday, battling back from an early break down in both sets to defeat her Montenegrin opponent.
She also said that her strategy at this point was to not look too far into the future.
“I’m not 100 per cent but you never really are,” she said. “The short-term plan is to manage it as best as possible.
“Managing the load, not train as much. Get through the tournament and evaluate after.”
Raducanu will next face Poland’s Magda Linette.
In a duel of two other former Grand Slam champions, 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin beat 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-1.
Kenin will next face Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
Claire Liu defeated Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to earn a shot at top seed and defending champion Iga Swiatek.
In the men’s draw, former world No. 1 Andy Murray made it through another tense match, rallying from a set down to beat Tomas Etcheverry and reach the second round.
The Briton, who has made a habit of great escapes in 2023, needed 3hr 12min to subdue the Argentinian 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4.
“Some of the matches I’ve played this year I haven’t deserved to win,” admitted Murray.
He won a five-setter lasting more than five hours at the Australian Open and, in Doha in February, he overcame eight match points in four matches before eventually falling to Daniil Medvedev in the final.
“Today, I felt like I created so many opportunities but it was one that easily could have got away from me.”
After injuries threatened his career, Murray, owner of three Grand Slam titles and two Olympic gold medals, said he wants to enjoy the final act of his career.
“I really want to make the most of these last years that I’ve got,” said the 35-year-old, who will be up against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in the next round.
“It’s exciting to see how far I can push this and push my body.
“There are certain things that I would like to achieve before I finish playing, but the No. 1 thing is to give my best effort every single day.
“If I do that, then I’ll finish my career on a high note.”
Fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka fired 17 winners in a 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 victory over qualifier Aleksandar Vukic to set up a second-round clash with 26th-seeded Miomir Kecmanovic.
Wawrinka, a former world No. 3 now ranked 100th, has had two left-knee and two left-foot operations since he reached the Indian Wells and Roland Garros finals in 2017.
Qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis booked a second-round clash with top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz after a 6-4, 6-1 win over wild card Brandon Holt. AFP, REUTERS
