Emma Raducanu has continued her fine form in the desert, although achieved her latest win in underwhelming circumstances.
Her opponent, Dayana Yastremska, was forced to retire just four games in due to illness.
It is a situation that the Great British tennis player will be all too familiar with, having suffered from various ailments of her own over the past couple of years quite severely.
However, now seemingly back on the right track, there is hope she can continue this run and go deep at Indian Wells.
Emma Raducanu on injuries and illness
Speaking following the match, the 21-year-old was supremely sympathetic to her Ukrainian opponent.
And understandably so, given just last year saw her ruled out for many months following surgery on both of her wrists and her ankle.
Back on the comeback trail now though, doing things her own way, this latest win has seen her cruise into the Round of 32, where she will now face Aryna Sabalenka; the perfect opportunity to test herself against one of the sport’s greatest at the moment.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Raducanu was more focused on the health of Yastremska though, as she noted: ‘I played pretty clean for four games and I just feel bad for Dayana because she’s been through a lot and I just hate seeing people injured.
‘I really empathise with her. I’ve been through both injury and illness and it completely sucks – it’s the worst thing that can happen to you as an athlete.’
Emma Raducanu is enjoying herself in Indian Wells
It is a shame that Raducanu’s fine run has been met with a Sabalenka-shaped obstacle, as her form suggests she could have gone deep in this competition.
However, after so long out of the game, this marks a fine chance to get a measure against the world number two and understand just how far away from the pinnacle she is.
Raducanu shot to fame in 2021 when she won the US Open as a qualifier, but since then has failed to progress in the meteoric way many assumed she would.
Having gone about her career in the strangest possible way, it feels like only now are we seeing the best of the youngster thus far. She is making great strides, and will likely give Sabalenka a tough match.
The Belarusian’s early exit in Dubai, and the fact she came so close to being dumped out of Indian Wells just last round, should give Raducanu confidence.
She has every chance of competing, and should she taste an unlikely victory it might mark the catalyst for her to once again catapult her career into the stars.
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