CNN
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Emma Radukanu won back-to-back matches for the first time since September when she reached the third round at Indian Wells on Saturday, but the teenager says she is still “not sick” after a series of injuries and illnesses sidelined her. the start of his season.
The 20-year-old beat world No. 21 Magda Lynette 7-6 (7-3) 6-2, her highest since winning the 2021 US Open.
Since that historic Grand Slam victory, Radukanu has been plagued by seemingly endless injuries and illnesses, which saw Radukanu fall from world No. 10 in July 2022 to world No. 77 this week.
“I had to really dig deep against Magda because her level is so high,” Radukanu said, according to the BBC.
“The wrist is completely painless. But I’ve sharpened my teeth a bit and it’s good to be able to win matches at this level despite the difficulties of the last few weeks.”
As well as the wrist injury that hampered last season, Radukanu suffered an ankle injury before the Australian Open, and tonsillitis forced him to withdraw from the Austin Open last month.
“Sometimes you wonder how that could be?” you think. he told reporters, Reuters reports.
“But I think you make your luck fast. It works both ways. I also won the US Open. I have to fail sometimes because success has come to me.
“I wouldn’t trade this fame for the world. Knowing that I have it in the bank, I’m willing to take whatever it takes.”
Against this year’s Australian Open semifinalist Lynette, Radukanu came from 4-1 down in the first set before eventually winning in two.
Radukanu will now face Brazil’s 13th seed Beatrice Haddad Maia for a place in the last 16.
