Match report: Moyuka Uchijima v Emma Raducanu 6-3, 6-2 (Indian Wells - Round of 128)

Emma Raducanu suffered an early exit from Indian Wells, as she lost to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in straight sets in the first round of the tournament. The weather conditions made the encounter between the two players a tricky affair, with the wind being more of a foe than a friend for the British number two.

This was Raducanu’s first match since a stalking incident at the Dubai Open, where she was approached by a man who exhibited what the Women’s Tennis Association called “fixated behaviour”. The event left the 22-year-old contemplating whether she should play at Indian Wells this year. She eventually decided to do so and was granted increased security throughout the tournament.

This was the second encounter between the two players. Their only other match ended with a straight-sets win for the British world number 55 (6-2, 6-4) in Seoul in 2022.

However, Uchijima’s current form does not come as a surprise. She has seen a meteoric rise in the last year, climbing 125 places in the WTA ranking from the end of 2023 until the end of last year.

The Japanese player came to Indian Wells having played twice as many matches as Raducanu in the current season. In Dubai, the 23-year-old Japanese number one came through qualifying and beat grand slam winner Jelena Ostapenko in the first round, registering the first top-30 win of her career before losing to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.

Raducanu started well, breaking Uchijima’s serve with a backhand volley near the net in the very first game of the match, but the Japanese broke back in the fourth game with a strong forehand into the corner. A misplaced backhand return from Raducanu gave Uchijima the first set.

The second set started with another break of serve for Uchijima. Raducanu had a good opportunity to get back in the match halfway through the second set, but missed the chance to convert either one of the two break points she had in the sixth game.

There was no going back from 6-3, 4-2, with Uchjima winning all eight points of the last two games to record her first win at Indian Wells.

It took the Japanese only 83 minutes to qualify to the second round, where world number three Coco Gauff awaits. In the windy Californian desert, Uchijima will look for her first win against a top-10 player.

Emma Raducanu is expected to play at the Miami Open next.