{"id":1809196,"date":"2026-03-05T16:45:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T13:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1809196"},"modified":"2026-03-05T16:45:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T13:45:15","slug":"who-is-emma-raducanus-first-indian-wells-opponent-meet-world-no-86-anastasia-zakharova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1809196","title":{"rendered":"Who is Emma Raducanu&#8217;s first Indian Wells opponent? Meet world No 86 Anastasia Zakharova"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Who is Emma Raducanu\u2019s first Indian Wells opponent? Meet world No 86 Anastasia Zakharova<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/oli-dickson-jefford\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Oli Dickson Jefford                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"05 Mar 2026 4:45 PM\" data-ps-date=\"05 Mar 2026 4:45 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1772729115\"><br \/>\n                            05 Mar 2026 4:45 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/emma-raducanu-first-indian-wells-opponent-world-no-86-anastasia-zakharova\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to facebook\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-features%2Femma-raducanu-first-indian-wells-opponent-world-no-86-anastasia-zakharova\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to twitter\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-features%2Femma-raducanu-first-indian-wells-opponent-world-no-86-anastasia-zakharova\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to linkedin\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/\/send\/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-features%2Femma-raducanu-first-indian-wells-opponent-world-no-86-anastasia-zakharova\" aria-label=\"Share to whatsapp\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-features%2Femma-raducanu-first-indian-wells-opponent-world-no-86-anastasia-zakharova\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Who is Emma Raducanu\u2019s first Indian Wells opponent? Meet world No 86 Anastasia Zakharova\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Emma-Raducanu-Anastasia-Zakharova-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Emma Raducanu and Anastasia Zakharova.\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                WTA Tour players Emma Raducanu and Anastasia Zakharova.                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Emma Raducanu is back in WTA Tour action this week, and the world No 24 will be hoping for a quick return to winning ways in Indian Wells.<\/p>\n<p>Heading into the WTA 1000 event, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/emma-raducanu\">Raducanu<\/a> is on a three-match losing streak, though she will be confident of recapturing her best form at a tournament she has previously played well at, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/emma-raducanu-record-mark-petchey-coach-reunion-right-decision\">and with Mark Petchey returning to her team<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>After waiting to find out who she will start her campaign against, we now know that Raducanu will begin her Indian Wells campaign against Anastasia Zakharova.<\/p>\n<h2>Who is Anastasia Zakharova?<\/h2>\n<p>Currently ranked 86th in the world, Zakharova previously reached a career-high of world No 79 in September 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Born in Volgograd in January 2002, the 24-year-old started playing tennis aged eight and made her first ITF appearance in 2015.<\/p>\n<p>Zakharova has won 16 career ITF singles titles across her career and is a three-time WTA Tour finalist in doubles, though is yet to lift a title at WTA or Challenger level in singles or doubles.<\/p>\n<p>The Russian\u2019s best Grand Slam run came at the 2024 Australian Open, coming through qualifying and then beating Yulia Putintseva and Kaja Juvan to reach the third round.<\/p>\n<p>Zakharova progressed to the second round of Wimbledon and the US Open in 2025, though she has never reached the main draw of the French Open.<\/p>\n<h2>Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/emma-raducanu-telling-coaching-comments-indian-wells-2026\">Emma Raducanu says her \u2018natural\u2019 game has been \u2018coached out\u2019 of her in telling comments<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/alex-eala-speaks-potential-coco-gauff-rematch-indian-wells\">Indian Wells: Alex Eala \u2018would love\u2019 rematch with \u2018role model\u2019 Coco Gauff<\/a><\/p>\n<p>She defeated Raducanu at an ITF event in Minsk back when they were both still teenagers in 2019, though the two have not met since at any level.<\/p>\n<p>Coached by her father, Vladimir Zakharov, the 24-year-old is making her debut appearance in Indian Wells this year.<\/p>\n<h2>Indian Wells run<\/h2>\n<p>While Raducanu has benefitted from the luxury of an opening-round main draw bye at the WTA 1000 event, Zakharova has already contested three matches in Indian Wells.<\/p>\n<p>Seeded fifth in qualifying, the Russian started her campaign with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Caroline Dolehide, before defeating 22nd seed Linda Fruhvirtova 6-4, 7-6(2) to seal her place in the main draw.<\/p>\n<p>Zakharova then defeated Ella Seidel 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday to reach the second round and book a clash against the 25th seed.<\/p>\n<h2>When will the match take place?<\/h2>\n<p>An official start time and court placement has not yet been confirmed for the contest between Zakharova and Raducanu.<\/p>\n<p>However, this match will be taking place at some point on Friday, barring any disruption due to weather.<\/p>\n<p>The winner of this encounter will face either Anna Blinkova or sixth seed Amanda Anisimova in the third round of the WTA 1000 event.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read Next<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/emma-raducanu-coach-chaos-indian-wells\">Exclusive \u2013 Emma Raducanu \u2018chaos\u2019 may give her lasting benefits, claims leading tennis voice<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"kwizly-quiz kwizly-eEDrkX\" data-nosnippet=\"\" data-quiz-type=\"poll|mpu\"><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who is Emma Raducanu\u2019s first Indian Wells opponent? Meet world No 86 Anastasia Zakharova Oli Dickson Jefford 05 Mar 2026 4:45 PM WTA Tour players Emma Raducanu and Anastasia Zakharova. Emma Raducanu is back in WTA Tour action this week, and the world No 24 will be hoping for a quick return to winning ways [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1809196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1809196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1809196"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1809196\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1809196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1809196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1809196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}