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Emma Raducanu is through to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after beating 13th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1 2-6 6-4 on Monday.
The British No.1 started strongly and broke twice en route to a quick first set in 34 minutes, only to drop her serve twice – double faulting for the fourth time – as the Brazilian leveled to claim the second set 6-2.
Raducanu saved a break point to hold for 2-2 in the decider before the world number 77 then produced some good tennis to break in the seventh game.
He set up two more break points, but Haddad Maia finally served, which the 2021 US Open champion did.
Raducanu will now face either world number 1 and defending champion, Iga Swiatek, or Bianca Andreescu in the last 16.
Raducanu has played Swiatek just once before on tour, losing 6-4 6-4 in Stuttgart last April, albeit on clay. The pair also met in the quarter-finals of the 2018 Wimbledon junior tournament, with Pole winning on that occasion as well.
He has also faced 32nd seed Andrescu before, also on clay in Rome last year, where he was forced to retire midway through the second set while trailing the Canadian.
Raducanu: Progress ‘pretty amazing’ after lack of training
Raducanu competes in his first tournament since losing to Coco Gauff in the second round of the Australian Open in January, with his participation already in doubt due to the return of the wrist problem he had last season.
The 20-year-old withdrew from events in Texas and exhibition tournaments ahead of his involvement in Indian Wells. She beat Danka Kovinic 6-2 6-3 in the first round and Poland’s 20th seed Magda Linette 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 in the second.
“I’m really happy with the way I fought and dug in the third set,” Raducanu said Amazon Prime after winning.
“I reduced the intensity in the second and, against a great opponent like Beatriz, it was enough and the set was 6-2 before you knew it. I came back in the third.
“For me it was amazing, I wasn’t ready for this tournament or training, so to come out and play at this level and be competitive is a good sign for me.”
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