One of the second-round matches at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open will feature 25th-seeded Emma Raducanu against Russian qualifier Anastasia Zakharova. Raducanu received a bye in the first round, while Zakharova advanced through qualifying with wins over Caroline Dolehide and Linda Fruhvirtová before opening her campaign with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Ella Seidel.
Emma Raducanu vs Anastasia Zakharova Match Details
Date: March 6, 2026
Tournament: BNP Paribas Open 2026
Round: Second round (Round of 64)
Venue: Indian Wells Tennis Garden, California, USA
Surface: Outdoor hard
Category:Â WTAÂ 1000
Live Telecast: Tennis Channel, Sky Sports, TSN, TVA
Raducanu vs Zakharova Head-to-Head
The two players have met once, at an ITF event in Minsk in 2019, where Zakharova won 7-5, 6-2. She leads the head-to-head 1-0.
Raducanu enters Indian Wells following consecutive first-round exits at WTA 1000 events in Doha and Dubai. She also endured a disappointing Australian Open, losing to Anastasia Potapova in the second round. However, she reached her second career final at the Ostrava Open, where she fell to home favorite Sorana Cîrstea, and advanced to the quarterfinals at the Hobart International before losing to Taylah Preston.
Zakharova has yet to win more than one main-draw match at any Tour-level event in 2026. She failed to qualify for Brisbane and suffered first-round exits at the Australian Open and Qatar Open. She won one match each in Cluj, Dubai, and Austin but was eliminated in the second round of all three tournaments.
Raducanu vs Zakharova Prediction
Raducanu has won 64% of her service games and 41.7% of her return games in the 2026 season so far. She has improved her serve, saving 55.9% of the break points she has faced while converting 47.1% of her break-point opportunities.
Zakharova lags behind Raducanu in most metrics, winning 60.2% of her service games and 33% of her return games. She has saved 49.3% of the break points she has faced and has a 40% break-point conversion rate, one area where she leads Raducanu.
Raducanu has been working on her forehand and, by her own admission, wants to add more power to that shot. She has a stronger return game than Zakharova, which should give her an edge in the upcoming match. For Zakharova to have a chance, she needs to land at least 70% of her first serves.
But given she has not advanced past the second round this season, PFSN’s Tennis Simulator gives the 25th seed a 71% win probability.
Pick: Raducanu to win in straight sets
