US Open champion Emma Raducanu has played down her chances of success at Indian Wells, saying she will continue to concentrate on her tennis and try to filter everything else out.
“I’m very excited to be here,” Raducanu said at a pre-tournament press conference.
“It’s my first time playing in Indian Wells and it’s a beautiful place. I just can’t wait to get started. I love the facilities, everything is just so nice to be around.
“I don’t really want to change anything. What got me to this point is not thinking anything differently so if I put additional thoughts in my head then that will just create a problem I think. I’m just going to keep going about my business and staying the same.
“It’s been a very cool three weeks. I got to experience some great things that I probably never would have got to do before but after that I just went straight back to training and focusing on this competition and the upcoming ones that I’ve got lined up.”
Raducanu said the conditions at Indian Wells would be very different to New York.
“The air is very dry so it’s going to be tough physically and it’s quite hot at the moment,” she said.
“The courts are slower and high bouncing so it’s probably going to be long rallies, and the balls get quite fluffy pretty quickly.
“I’m sure it’s going to be physical in all of the matches so it’s just a matter of trying to get in as best shape as possible and keep fit and healthy.”
She added she wasn’t concerned about going it alone for the rest of the season, after parting company with coach Andrew Richardson.
Raducanu is working at Indian Wells with former British No.1 Jeremy Bates.
“Jeremy is part of women’s tennis at the LTA so while he’s here he’s helping me out,” she said.
“But going forwards I’m just going to wait and find the right person, I’m not going to rush into anything. I want to make sure I make the right decision.
Her opening match will be against either Colombian Maria Camila Osorio Serrano or Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
