By Ros Satar
- Emma Raducanu v Moyuka Uchijima
- Sonay Kartal [LL] v Varvara Lepchenko [Q]
INDIAN WELLS, USA – Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal open up the accounts for British women at Indian Wells.
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Emma Raducanu v Moyuka Uchijima | H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Emma Raducanu v Moyuka Uchijima | H2H: First Meeting |
| WTA Indian Wells | USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $23,760 |
| Second on Stadium 1, not before 1pm (7pm GMT) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
Emma Raducanu makes her return to the tour after distressing scenes in Dubai after being followed by a stalker.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (Hard – 2025)
| H2H: | Emma Raducanu (WR 55) | Moyuka Uchijima (WR 52) |
| Tournament Previous Best | R16 (2023) | Debut |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 37.3 | 35.8 |
| Return Points Won % | 46.3 | 42.9 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 54.2 | 41.6 |
| Break Points Saved % | 59.2 | 58.1 |
| Overall Service Points Won % | 52.7 | 57.7 |
They are close enough in the rankings for this not to be an assumed done deal for Raducanu, who slightly edges debutant Moyuka Uchijima in most of the stats
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Playing Styles & Prediction
Raducanu has a lot to put behind her, and a new coach beside her in Vladimir Platenik on a trial basis. She does have experience of what it is like to play in the desert, often referred to as the fifth Slam and with good reason.
It feels as though this is as much on her racquet as it is a chance for the Japanese player to have a free hit with nothing to encumber her.
Prediction: Raducanu in three sets.
Sonay Kartal [LL] v Varvara Lepchenko [Q] | H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Sonay Kartal [LL] v Varvara Lepchenko | H2H: First Meeting |
| WTA Indian Wells | USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $23,760 |
| Third on Stadium 7, not before 2pm (10pm GMT) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (Hard – 2025)
| H2H: | Sonay Kartal (WR 83) | Varvara Lepchenko (WR 124) |
| Tournament Previous Best | Debut | R3 (2014, 2015) |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 41.5 | 37.5 |
| Return Points Won % | 46.1 | 42.0 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 45.5 | 51.1 |
| Break Points Saved % | 55.6 | 71.4 |
| Overall Service Points Won % | 55.8 | 59.1 |
Playing Styles & Prediction
Although Sonay Kartal has continued to make quiet and confident strides since breaking the world Top 100 and winning her first WTA title, this might be more a challenge against the more established player in Varvara Lepchenko.
Varvara Lepchenko has made it as far as the third round in the past, but seems a long way from those days, but made it through qualifying.
For Kartal it is another first, making her debut and she should just treat this as a free hit at this level.
Prediction: Lepchenko in three sets.
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