- Briton bows out in third round with 6-3, 7-5 defeat
- Raducanu fights hard in second set against No 2 seed
There are few experiences as valuable for a tennis player than staring down one of the best and seeing exactly where their level falls. For Emma Raducanu, that occasion came in the face of Aryna Sabalenka, now a multiple grand slam champion and desperate for more.
Placed in the hot seat against a Sabalenka in full flow, Raducanu gave a strong account of both her quality and resilience in two competitive sets before Sabalenka’s immense power, weight of shot and her intention to dominate every ball guided the No 2 seed to the fourth-round at Indian Wells with a tough 6-3, 7-5 win.