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ASB Classic: Emma Raducanu relieved to bank first WTA victory since March 2023

By Michael Burgess

Senior Sports Journalist·NZ Herald·

2 Jan, 2024 04:40 PM5 mins to read

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Emma Raducanu in her match against Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the ASB Classic - Round 1. Photosport

It’s only one match – in the first round of a small tournament on the world scale – but British star Emma Raducanu conquered a few demons at the ASB Classic on Tuesday night.

After seven months off the tour, Raducanu made a successful return, with a tense 6-3 4-6

Emma Raducanu celebrates winning her match at the ASB Classic. Photo / Photosport

She has talked a lot about a fresh start, even commenting that she felt “reborn” ahead of this tournament – after the trials and tribulations of the past two years, off and on the court.

This was the best way for a new beginning, a gritty victory where she was mentally and physically tested and found a way, despite not being at her best. It was a gripping contest – stretching over almost two and a half hours – before Raducanu sealed her passage to the second round.

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The 2021 US Open champion was obviously rusty, after such a long absence. But the 21-year-old showed plenty of resilience, converting her fourth match point to earn her first tour victory since March at Indian Wells.

“I’m really proud of the way I fought,” said Raducanu. “It was difficult playing Gabi because I know her pretty well, we are pretty close. She is such a good competitor and every time I was ahead she raised her game. It could have gone either way.”

On the surface, a win here – in front of a modest, though highly engaged crowd – isn’t that significant in the context of a career that includes a grand slam title. But this meant plenty to Raducanu, after the struggles of 2023, where she only played 10 matches before stepping off the tour for surgery on both hands and an ankle.

Coming through such a battle, where she gave up a 5-2 advantage in the third set before recovering, was heartening.

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“It means a lot,” said Raducanu. “It’s so different playing a match compared to playing practice; the fitness, and the speed of the game, compared to hitting.”

The world No 298 had to display significant mental fortitude, especially after she was broken at 5-2 serving for the match in the third set, then gave up two match points in the next game. “It’s obviously frustrating – one of the most frustrating things in tennis,” said Raducanu. “I just had to stay in the moment, stay present because in those moments, if you lose concentration for a second the match is over. I was 5-2 up and all of a sudden it’s 5-5 and she is serving. It’s super important to stay calm and reassured and hunt those big moments down rather than shy away from it. After not playing competition for so long, you never know how the big points are going to go.”

Physically, Tuesday was also a novel feeling for Raducanu. She carried injuries in the second half of 2022 and through 2023, before deciding to have the surgeries, which have rebuilt her body and confidence.

“It is refreshing to be playing a match pain free,” said Raducanu. “You’re always going to feel an element of discomfort, in terms of generic fatigue. But niggle, injury wise, I felt completely fine out there, which was a nice feeling to have. Instead of thinking on the court about three different things that hurt, I could actually just think about tennis and that was something pretty new.”

Raducanu also found time for some humour, celebrating a successful Hawkeye challenge after she had burned through several others, most by millimetres, which epitomised her relaxed persona here.

“I like being close to the fans, it is a lot nicer than some stadiums which are a lot bigger and you are really far away from the front row,” said Raducanu. “It’s a really cosy feeling.”

In Tuesday’s last match on centre court, the local duo Erin Routliffe and Paige Hourigan enjoyed a popular 6-3 7-6(7) victory over the Czech siblings Brenda and Linda Fruhvirtova.

The Kiwi pair had only played together once in the last four years but showed good combination and cohesion against the highly rated teenagers. It was a tight affair throughout, epitomised by match point, which was decided by a Hawkeye call of millimetres.