Emma Raducanu will meet Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff if she makes it through her Indian Wells opener against Moyuka Uchijima. Raducanu is returning to action at the two-week WTA 1000 event for what will be her first competitive match since being emotionally shaken up by a spectator at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The man, who ‘exhibited fixated behaviour’, was detained and given a restraining order, according to local police. The Brit will kick off her California campaign against Uchijima, who sits three places ahead of her in the world rankings. And if she makes it through, the daunting challenge of meeting No. 3 seed Gauff will await in the second round.
As the top 32 seeds all receive first-round byes, Gauff can afford to sit tight and watch Raducanu and Uchijima fight it out for the right to meet her on home turf.
Former US Open champion Gauff, 20, is one of the heavyweight figures in the women’s draw. She enjoyed an impressive run to the semi-finals last year, and will naturally be desperate to go two better and win the title this time round.
Gauff is taking a relaxed approach to her Indian Wells preparation, as she enjoyed a night at the Oscars earlier this week. “I’m really happy to be here,” she said. “I want to be more than just a tennis player, and step into other roles.
“This part of it, everything is new and outside of my wildest dreams, but I’m taking it, I’m thanking God for it, and I’m just happy to be here.”
Raducanu’s prep involved a trip back to the UK after her scary ordeal in Dubai. Since jetting out to California, where tournament organisers have offered her extra security, the 22-year-old has been working with LTA academy coach Tom Welsh.
Welsh previously spent time working with the likes of Leylah Fernandez and Henry Searle. But he is only believed to be coaching Raducanu on an interim basis, as she continues to take her time over the appointment of her next full-time coach.
Raducanu had worked with Nick Cavaday for more than a year, between the end of 2023 and the start of 2025. But their association was cut short by Cavaday due to health concerns.
Results have been underwhelming for Raducanu leading up to the ‘fifth slam’. She has won one and lost four of her last five games, with Dubai the only tournament since the Australian Open in which she has made it beyond the first round.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk