Marketa Vondrousova wins battle of former Grand Slam champions against Emma Raducanu at Abu Dhabi Open
Match Report
Emma Raducanu suffered a disappointing first round exit at the Abu Dhabi Open going down against Marketa Vondrousova in a battle of former Grand Slam champions.
The defeat is the Brit's second first round exit in quick succession following her loss against World No.101 Cristina Bucsa of Spain at the Singapore Tennis Open.
Raducanu complained of a neck injury during the contest started positively against Vondrousova who has had travails since her Grand Slam win in similar fashion to Raducanu in a battle perhaps of ailing fading lights.
She broke her opponent to move 3-1 up. However she failed to consolidate that break of serve and was broken straight back by the Czech.
Buoyed by this response, Vondrousova kicked on to hold serve and then broke to lead 4-3. Raducanu's first set collapse was completed when Vondrousova held serve once more and broke the Brit for a third time to seal the opener 6-3.
The second set proved tighter as Raducanu remained on serve through the first six games to 3-3. Before a really tight game which saw Raducanu force deuce for 4-3.
But Raducanu then lost four straight points on serve to surrender a break. Serving for a match, Vondrousova showed nerves 15-40 allowing Raducanu to break straight back.
The Czech forced three match points on the next Raducanu service game though clinched the third of those to seal victory. She will now face off against Yulia Putintseva in the second round in a tough draw at the Abu Dhabi Open.
Defeat for Emma Raducanu in Abu Dhabi as Markéta Vondroušová takes the match 6-3, 6-4#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/CzaJg1MZHa
— LTA (@the_LTA) February 4, 2025
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