First match and first victory for Emma Raducanu after nine months of absence on the WTA circuit. The Briton, away from the courts due to injuries and having to undergo surgery on both wrists as well as her ankle, won Tuesday against the Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse, 134th in the world, in the first of the WTA 250 in Auckland ( 6-3, 4-6, 7-5).
Despite a first set won 6-3, the winner of the US Open in 2021, currently 301st in the WTA rankings, struggled to maintain her lead (five break points conceded), then lost the second (4-6 ) after losing it at 5-4.
She will face Svitolina in the next round
In the third set, the Briton thought she had done the hardest part by obtaining two match points at 5-3. During a contested end of the set, Elena-Gabriela Ruse managed to equalize at 5-5 but ended up losing.
In the second round, Emma Raducanu will meet the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, 25th in the WTA rankings, who triumphed over the Dane Caroline Wozniacki for her entry into the competition (6-4, 6-3). The match is scheduled for Wednesday.
