Emma Raducanu faced a tough return to competition at the Indian Wells Open, falling 6-3, 6-2 to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the first round. The match marked her return to the court after a challenging period, during which she was pursued by an obsessive fan across multiple tournaments in Asia.
Indian Wells is often called “Tennis Paradise” for its stunning mountainous backdrop and warm climate, but its slow conditions and unpredictable gusts of wind can make it a brutal test for players. The windy conditions were a factor throughout the match, causing difficulties for both players. Raducanu started strong, securing an early break, but Uchijima adapted better to the tricky environment.
The Japanese player, ranked No. 52 in the world, showed why she has been climbing the rankings with a solid baseline game and strong serving in key moments. Raducanu attempted to play aggressively from inside the baseline, but her errors mounted as she struggled to adjust. Uchijima’s consistency and heavy topspin forehand allowed her to dictate play and secure a comfortable victory.
Ahead of the tournament, Raducanu admitted she had considered skipping Indian Wells after taking time off to recover mentally from recent events. Her last match ended in distress when she spotted her stalker in the crowd at the Dubai Open. Given those circumstances, simply competing again and handling the match with composure is a step forward.
Thursday also saw Raducanu debut a new coaching partnership, with Slovak coach Vladimir Platenik joining her team on a trial basis. Platenik has previously worked with top players, including Daria Kasatkina, Belinda Bencic, and Dominika Cibulkova. His experience could be valuable as Raducanu looks to regain confidence and stability on tour. Her previous coach, Nick Cavaday, stepped down due to health reasons after the Australian Open.
Meanwhile, in the men’s draw, British No. 3 Jacob Fearnley experienced a heartbreaking defeat in his ATP Masters 1000 debut. The 22-year-old fell 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 to rising 18-year-old talent João Fonseca.
Fearnley started slowly but found his rhythm in the second set, playing aggressive, attacking tennis to overwhelm his opponent. At 3-1 up in the deciding set, he seemed on course for a statement win. However, nerves took hold, and Fonseca displayed the mental toughness that has made him one of the game’s most promising young players. The Brazilian rattled off the final five games to secure victory in his Indian Wells debut.
Fonseca has been making waves on tour, following up his Australian Open win over Andrey Rublev by claiming his first ATP title in Buenos Aires last month. His next challenge will be British No. 1 and 13th seed Jack Draper in the second round on Saturday.
