Raducanu exits Indian Wells in first round
A difficult year for Emma Raducanu continued as she fell to a first-round defeat at Indian Wells.
Emma Raducanu's Indian Wells Open campaign was swiftly ended by Moyuka Uchijima on Thursday.
Uchijima was a dominant 6-3 6-2 winner over the former US Open champion to set up a meeting with world number three Coco Gauff.
Raducanu was playing on the WTA Tour for the first time since last month's Dubai Tennis Championships.
In Dubai, where she had ended a losing run by beating Maria Sakkari, Raducanu was the subject of "fixated behaviour" from a spectator in a match against Karolina Muchova.
Raducanu appeared to be struggling emotionally with the incident as she lost to Muchova.
She discussed ahead of Indian Wells how she felt "distraught" following the encounter, having previously been approached by the individual.
Raducanu was therefore looking for a fresh start as her focus returned to matters on the court this week, also working for the first time with new coach Vladimir Platenik.
But the Briton again struggled to find the rhythm that made her a major champion four years ago, with Uchijima a comfortable first-round victor.
That Flushing Meadows success remains Raducanu's only appearance in a WTA Tour final.
Data debrief: Raducanu's record low
Raducanu has now won only 11 of her 26 matches at WTA 1000 events following this latest reverse, giving her a win rate of 42.3%.
Since WTA 1000 events were introduced in 2009, that means Raducanu now has the lowest win rate among grand slam champions.
One-time French Open winner Francesca Schiavone won 42 of 99 matches, with her win rate of 42.4% now marginally ahead of Raducanu's.
42.3 - Since the format’s introduction in 2009, Emma Raducanu (42.3%, 11-15) now holds the lowest win rate among former Grand Slam winners at WTA-1000 events, now below Francesca Schiavone (42.4%, 42-57). Grapple.#TennisParadise | @BNPPARIBASOPEN @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/R0T6T1EiIh
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) March 6, 2025