Belarus’ Sasnovich sets up Raducanu date
INDIAN WELLS: Aliaksandra Sasnovich booked a clash with the WTA’s hottest star on Wednesday, downing Maria Camila Osorio in straight sets to reach a second-round meeting with Emma Raducanu at Indian Wells.
Sasnovich, a 27-year-old from Belarus ranked 100th in the world, saved nine of the 10 break points she faced to emerge with the 6-0, 6-4 first-round victory and advance to a meeting with Raducanu, the British 18-year-old whose run to the US Open title last month electrified the tennis world.
Raducanu, who became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title, arrived at Indian Wells without a coach, having parted company with Andrew Richardson after her victory at Flushing Meadows.
As she continues her search for a permanent coach, former pro Jeremy Bates is helping her out at Indian Wells, where Raducanu said she “can’t wait to get started” on her campaign.
In other first-round WTA action on Wednesday, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens rallied from a set and a break down to beat Heather Watson 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-1.
From 5-5 in the second set, Stephens won seven games in a row for just her third win over Britain’s Watson in eight career meetings.
France’s Alize Cornet defeated Romanian qualifier Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) to set up a second-round match with Leylah Fernandez, the 19-year-old Canadian who made her own scintillating run to the US Open final last month only to finish runner-up to Raducanu.
MURRAY IN TROUBLE
Airing his sweaty tennis shoes outside a California hotel room has landed Andy Murray in trouble at home after the shoes were stolen — along with his wedding ring tied to one of the laces.
Murray, who married Kim Sears in 2015, has played with his wedding ring attached to one of his laces ever since and did so when he took part in a practice session ahead of his opener in the Indian Wells tournament against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.
Murray explained on Twitter how he had left his shoes overnight under the car his team are using while in California to try and dry them out after a hard day’s practice.
When he went to get them the next morning, they were gone. “Not the end of the world”, he thought, as he went to
buy some more.
“I was preparing for my practice when my physio said to me ‘where’s your wedding ring?’ And I was like ‘oh no’ .... So yeah, my ring has been stolen as well. Needless to say I’m in the bad books at home so I want to try and find it.”