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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
George Flood

Indian Wells: Emma Raducanu and Cameron Norrie make third-round exits in California

Emma Raducanu and Cameron Norrie have both been ousted from Indian Wells after respective third-round losses on Tuesday.

Raducanu was defeated in straight sets 6-3, 7-5 despite a spirited display against world No2 Aryna Sabalenka, while British men’s No1 Norrie - who won tennis’ unofficial fifth major back in 2021 - blew a set and 3-0 lead as he was eliminated by French veteran Gael Monfils 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in a thrilling contest that lasted for more than three hours.

Those losses mean there are no British singles players left in action at Indian Wells this year, with Andy Murray having lost in straight sets to men’s fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the second round on Friday.

British women’s No1 Katie Boulter, Jack Draper and Dan Evans were all eliminated in the first round in California, meanwhile.

Raducanu pushed Belarusian Sabalenka to the limit, battling back from a break down to level at 5-5 in the second set before ultimately falling.

Despite her loss, the 21-year-old will take confidence from the way she consistently pressured her opponent before Sabalenka finally claimed victory on her fourth match point.

Raducanu had booked her third-round berth after winning back-to-back matches for the first time since her run to the last 16 of the same tournament last year.

Norrie, meanwhile, led by a set and 3-0 before falling victim to a stirring comeback from the 37-year-old Monfils, who revelled in the support of the majority of the crowd.

Monfils clawed back to level in an extraordinary second set tie-break in which he won a point with an underarm serve before clinching the set at the end of a stunning 31-stroke rally.

Monfils said in an on-court interview: "I've been working hard. Cam was playing very good tactically. He was better than me at the beginning.

"I had to change and think about it. I had to improve a couple things in my game to give him trouble and at the end I was happy that physically I could stay with him."

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