(October 8, 2021) INDIAN WELLS , California – Players from the United Kingdom took center stage during the Friday night session on Stadium 1 Court of the BNP Paribas Open. Leading off the night session, Emma Raducanu had her 10 -match win-streak stopped in her first tournament since capturing the U.S. Open victory. The British 18-year-old lost in straight sets to Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday night.

Raducanu, who gained entrance to the tournament with a late wild card, lost 6-2, 6-4 in the second round. This was her first appearance at the Indian Wells, California event.

“I mean, playing at night is always going to be different,” noted Raducanu in her media conference. “I haven’t had much experience with night matches. I’ve only played one before on Ashe. I’m still very, very new to the tour. I think that experience just comes from playing week in, week out and experiencing all these different things.

“I’m kind of glad that what happened today happened so I can learn and take it as a lesson. So going forward, yeah, I’ll just have more experienced banked.”

“I’m not match-tight right now,” she added. “Like I haven’t played a competition in a month, since the US Open. That will just come just playing week in, week out. What do I need to work on? I mean, I’ll probably just go back and review the match probably tomorrow when I can look at it with a clear head. Yeah, from then I’ll be able to plan.”

Sasnovich said it was a very good match for her. “I play really well. I know she just won US Open. I lost there in the first round. So a little bit different, you see. But I tried to go on court, I tried to enjoy. My dad told me, just go and enjoy, just enjoy tennis, just live there. It was a good, solid match from me. I did everything right and I’m happy with the result.

Three-time major champion Andy Murray, coming in as a wild card beat French southpaw Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-2 in a first-round match, which followed Raducanu’s.

The Scotsman Murray said that he was able to handle the breezy conditions on court: “I kind of played how the conditions allowed a little bit. I mean, it was very, very breezy on the court, like a strong breeze from one end. So from the far end of the court, it was really blowing into your back there. So, yeah, I mean, I thought I played how the conditions allowed. I’ve played well in the wind over the years. Yeah, did a good job of that tonight.”

“I’m trying to be a little bit more present and focus on just every single point. I think tonight I did a good job of that. I did well considering the conditions. I don’t think I played, like, amazing tennis or the best tennis that I can play. But I still won comfortably against a very good player just by knuckling down on every point.”

Murray still on the comeback road from hip surgery, talked about playing 12 tournaments in his recent comeback and how his body is holding up:

“Physically my body responds well to playing matches. That’s one of the hardest things about being out, is that you just can’t replicate the intensity of match play. So you can do all of the work in the gym, do as much practicing as you want, but getting on the match court is different. Your body responds differently to that. Certainly mine does. I’ve heard many athletes talking about it across a number of sports, talking about match fitness. Yeah, I don’t know whether it’s due to adrenaline or that will to win, you push your body just that little bit harder, 5%, 10% extra. Unless you’re out there competing regularly, your body doesn’t get used to that. I want to keep playing whilst my body feels good. I don’t want to overplay obviously. I have played quite a few tournaments recently, but I’ve not had any really deep runs. I’ve had enough sort of rest between the events. Yeah, whilst my body feels good, I want to try to play as much as I can between now and the end of the year to set myself up as best as I can for next season.”

Murray will play Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the second round.

Leylah Fernandez, a finalist at the U. S. Open bested Aliza Cornet of France in straight sets in a Stadium 2 night session. the 19-year-old Canadian won 6-2, 6-3.

More to folllow…….

All photo’s by Chad Lominick @CCSnaps13 on Twitter.