British tennis star Emma Raducanu could be set to face world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round at Indian Wells in California.
The prestigious tournament, considered by many to be the unofficial fifth Grand Slam, gets underway on Wednesday with massive ranking points up for grabs.
Raducanu enjoyed her career-best Indian Wells performance last year in what was undoubtedly her finest showing in an injury-hit 2023 campaign.
The 2021 US Open champion arrived as a wildcard and produced impressive wins over Danka Kovinic, Magda Linette and Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Raducanu eventually lost in the last 16 to world No.1 Iga Swiatek and she will likely face another daunting task this year should she progress to the third round.
The 21-year-old, currently ranked No.250 as she continues her comeback from injury problems, is projected to take on Sabalenka, a two-time major champion.
Belarusian star Sabalenka won the first Grand Slam of 2024 in January with her triumph at the Australian Open and would be a massive test for Raducanu.
Sabalenka, who is seeded second for Indian Wells, has a first-round bye and is expected to ease past Peyton Sterns or Elisabetta Cocciaretto in round two.
Raducanu, meanwhile, who has once again been handed a wildcard, faces a qualifier in her opener and then must get past 30th-seed Dayana Yastremska to set up the blockbuster clash against Sabalenka.
Raducanu, ranked as high as world No.10 in 2022, has never played Sabalenka on the WTA Tour and there potential match-up would be a intriguing battle.
Indian Wells is Raducanu’s fifth event this year after she returned from injury in January following nine months on the sidelines.
Raducanu made her comeback in Auckland – where she impressed despite losing in the last 16 – and then lost in the second round of the Australian Open.
She produced a win over Marie Bouzkova in Abu Dhabi to reach the last 16 again but suffered defeat to Ons Jabeur before losing to Anhelina Kalinina in Doha.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, has played three tournaments in 2024, reaching a final in Brisbane before securing the Australian Open title and she was then beaten by Donna Vekic in her first match in Dubai.
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