Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray have both discovered how their respective Indian Wells bids will start off with preparation now well underway for the first round proper. There will be no Novak Djokovic at the BNP Paribas Open, however, after the Serb was denied entry into the United States due to his vaccination status.
Raducanu has been dealt an early curveball, with the 20-year-old needing to beat the player who got the best of her at last year’s Australian Open, Danka Kovinic, if her Indian Wells dream is to survive beyond Wednesday’s first round.
The pair’s only previous match-up came in Melbourne just over a year ago, when Raducanu battled valiantly through blisters on her right hand before ultimately losing in three sets. If the Brit can overcome the world No 62, a daunting tie with Polish star Magda Linette would await after her bye to the second round.
Subsequent projected ties against Beatriz Haddad Maia in round three and top seed Iga Swiatek in the round of 16 also make for uncomfortable reading, while Raducanu would hypothetically avoid second seed Aryna Sabalenka until the final.
DON’T MISS: Djokovic could suffer due to two stars after Indian Wells withdrawal
Djokovic missed last year’s US Open for the same reason, while he was allowed to travel to Australia, 12 months after his controversial deportation, to win his 10th Aussie Open title back in January.
The veteran admitted that his Indian Wells hopes were up in the air after his semi-final defeat to Medvedev at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Friday, saying: “If there’s no America, I guess I’ll play clay. Monte Carlo is probably the next tournament. If that’s the case, I’ll take some time off, I’ll prepare.”
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