Tennis professional Emma Raducanu has celebrated a successful comeback on the WTA tour after months of suffering. However, the Brit had to tremble for a long time in her first round win in Auckland against Elena-Gabriela Ruse. After the match, the 21-year-old received good news.
The comeback was a success: Emma Raducanu won her first round match against the Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the WTA tournament in Auckland after a tough fight with 6:3, 4:6 and 7:5, thus celebrating her first victory since spring 2023.
“It’s very exciting to be out there and playing again,” said the 21-year-old after her triumph. “I’m really happy to be back on the tour and can’t wait for the season to get started again,” said Raducanu, who then spoke of a “difficult break.”
“Now I’m just grateful that I’m healthy and grateful that I can move my body again without being confined to a bed or a wheelchair,” said the young British woman, who had to undergo several operations over the summer and over months couldn’t train.
Raducanu is in the main draw of the Australian Open
Due to her long break, the start at the Australian Open was also in danger. Since she didn’t qualify directly for the main field, didn’t get a wild card or didn’t make it through the so-called “Special Ranking”, Raducanu was threatened with the tough process of qualifying.
On Wednesday, however, the organizers announced that the 21-year-old was now in the main field. Because the American Lauren Davis was injured and canceled her start, Raducanu moved up and thereby avoided the exhausting qualification.
Raducanu squandered a 5-2 lead in the third set
The 2021 US Open winner in Auckland did not initially notice the competition rust. In particular, her serve came over the net as desired in the first set. In the second round, Ruse turned up the heat and took advantage of her opponent.
In the all-important third set, after an early break, Raducanu looked like she was going through, but when the score was 5:2, she suddenly lost the thread. Ruse came back into the match, fended off two match points and equalized to 5:5. But Raducanu closed the bag by winning two games in a row.
The challenge that now awaits the Brit is much greater: in the second round she will face the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.
2024-01-03 11:53:00
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