Emma Raducanu entered the Qatar Open hoping to end her losing streak and get back to winning. However, as the draw was announced, some confusion led to the British star being given two opponents.
This issue has now been cleared up, and Raducanu will look to secure a win over Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The mix-up
The Qatar Open is now a key event on the tour's calendar, a stage where top players compete for the title in Doha.
Raducanu received a wildcard for the event, but for a time, it was unclear who she would face in the first round. The draw had to be restarted after a mix-up. She was first set to play Anna Kalinskaya, but the online draw listed the 2021 US Open champion against Alexandrova.
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It will be a tough draw for Raducanu. If she makes it past her first-round match, world number one Aryna Sabalenka will be waiting for her in the second round. The British star will hope for a deep run to stop her early exits.
A rough patch for Raducanu
Her US Open title now feels like a distant memory. Since 2021, the British star has not reached the same level of success she had in New York. However, she made history as the first qualifier to win a grand slam.
Heading into 2025, many expected her to improve, but early exits have continued.
She lost to Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open, failing to win a set. That was followed by first-round exits at both the Singapore and Abu Dhabi Opens. Raducanu now hopes for better results in Doha, but she faces a difficult challenge.
Raducanu is a top talent, and a strong performance at this event could give her a solid base for the rest of 2025. It will be interesting to see how she responds to the tough draw and whether she can regain her form.
Emma will work with Jane O’Donoghue in Doha
— Emma Raducanu Fans (@RaducanuNews) February 7, 2025
Emma has worked with O’Donoghue a few times in the past 3 years and they have known each other since Emma was a junior pic.twitter.com/SIyGqmPdke
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