Emma Raducanu admits a ‘lack of preparation’ was the reason for her Indian Wells exit in her first match since being targeted by a stalker.
Raducanu has refused to blame last month’s ordeal on her first-round defeat to Moyuka Uchijima, insisting it wasn’t on her mind on Thursday.
Japan’s world No.52 Uchijima defeated Raducanu 6-3 6-2, denying the British No.2 a second-round showdown with American star Coco Gauff.
Raducanu opened up about the stalking incident ahead of her clash with Uchijima – but she is keen to move on and leave it in the past – after she ramped up her security team and the man was given a restraining order.
Speaking after her loss at Indian Wells, the 22-year-old former US Open champion said: ‘I didn’t have what happened in Dubai in my head at all today.
‘If anything, [it was] a bit of a lack of preparation on the tennis court, playing someone who played pretty good in these extremely awkward conditions.
‘I think it depends what sort of frame of mind you are in. I think all the players will say, if they are feeling good, it’s great. If they are not, it can be more difficult and challenging.
Raducanu becomes recipient of unwanted record
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, below Francesca Schiavone (42.4%, 42-57).
‘You have to just overcome whatever hurdles that come your way and just keep going forward.’
World No.55 Raducanu is currently seeking a new long-term coach after her split with Nick Cavaday following the Australian Open in January.
Cavaday stepped down from the role due to personal health reasons and Raducanu has since started a trial period with coach Vladimir Platenik.
The Slovakian was working with Raducanu at Indian Wells and the Briton was quizzed about their partnership after her defeat to Uchijima.
‘It is good that I have someone who is very experienced,’ Raducanu added. ‘We will see how the work goes, how we get on on and off the court and the methods. I am looking forward to seeing how it goes.’
Speaking more generally about her early Indian Wells exit, Raducanu said: ‘It was just a very difficult match for me. I tried to be aggressive, I tried to make the ball, but I guess it didn’t work.
‘I had great support around me. I was feeling pretty good. I think today was just a bit of a curveball, but I guess I am just going to move on.
‘I think I just need to keep trying to put one foot in front of the other and not look back too much.
‘I could improve being more aggressive and having a better quality of shot going forward into the court more. I think I could improve every area of my game, to be honest, after today’s performance.’
