Emma Raducanu cruises past Danka Kovinic in Indian Wells first round despite wrist injury concerns

Emma Raducanu defeated Danka Kovinic in the first round of Indian Wells 6-2 6-3 on Thursday. Montenegrin Kovinic is ranked No. 60 in the world in women’s tennis, and at 28 has plenty of experience compared to her rival, 20 years her junior.

Ad Both players broke each other in the opening three games of the first set, as Raducanu trailed 2-1. WTA Indian Wells'When it rains it pours' — Raducanu says wrist injury has returned ahead of opener16 HOURS AGO However Raducanu continued to build upon that momentum and then broke again as she moved 4-2 clear, with three breaks helping her to win the first set 6-2. Kovinic calmed herself in the break and went 2-0 up with a break of her own as the pair contested the second set in America, but Raducanu repeated her steely comeback from the first set, and another three break points gave her a 6-3 win in the set, and the match to take her into the second round.

«It was a good match for me to get through,» Raducanu said. «I think that Danka is an extremely difficult opponent. I was expecting [a battle] going into today, and I'm just glad to get through.

»I'm happy I stuck in. Being a break down is difficult, of course, but I think mentally, I just took it one point at a time." Raducanu had been a doubt before her appearance after admitting that she was struggling with a longstanding wrist problem. 'Tactical genius' Murray can 'make his move' at Indian Wells — Wilander 'His last chance' — Why Indian Wells withdrawal could help Djokovic achieve rare feat Djokovic coach Ivanisevic says world No.