Emma Raducanu triumphs in a gripping Korea Open first round. © Twitter (@EmmaRaducanu)
Emma Raducanu secured a hard-fought victory in the first round of the Korea Open in Seoul, overcoming a tough challenge from Peyton Stearns. The 70th-ranked player from Britain returned to competition tennis with triumph after an early departure from the US Open. Raducanu’s match against the American, currently ranked 48th, lasted an intense two hours and 43 minutes, with Raducanu emerging victorious with scores of 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5).
The match began with Raducanu displaying early aggression by breaking Stearns’ serve in the opening game. However, the contest quickly turned into a back-and-forth battle, with both players exchanging breaks of serve. The first set saw eight breaks, with Raducanu eventually clinching it in a tie-break after 74 minutes of fluctuating play.
Both players demonstrated resilience and skill in the second set as they saved multiple break points. Raducanu managed to break Stearns’ serve to take a 5-3 lead but faced a challenge as she was broken while serving for the match. The set continued to ebb and flow, with Stearns failing to hold her serve when ahead at 6-5. The drama extended into another tie-break, where Raducanu once again proved her mettle by winning the set and securing the match.
Reflecting on her performance, Raducanu acknowledged the difficulty of the match and the challenging conditions, saying, “I’m proud to have made it through to the next round. It was tough and very humid. It was a tough match to get through. I haven’t played many matches in the last few months. I’m pleased that Peyton is an outstanding player in good form.”
With this win, Raducanu progresses to the next round, where she will face Yue Yuan of China, who is ranked 40th in the world. This upcoming match will be another significant test for Raducanu as she continues her campaign in Seoul.
