Emma Raducanu gets a very nice 6-4, 6-1 win over Marie Bouzkova to reach the 2nd round at the Abu Dhabi WTA 500. Some promising signs from the 21yo in this start of the season… Gets Ons Jabeur in R2 🔥
Very impressive from Emma Raducanu, opens up Abu Dhabi campaign with Bouzkova win as Ons Jabeur awaits
WTAMonday, 05 February 2024 at 20:13
Emma Raducanu was in ultra impressive form against a tough test on paper in Marie Bouzkova, but she navigated it superbly sealing the deal 6-4, 6-1 at the Abu Dhabi Open. Ons Jabeur now awaits the 21-year-old.
Raducanu has shown glimmers that a return to form could happen, but had to deal with sickness during the Australian Open which meant her match with Yafan Wang was almost a non starter. But against Bouzkova, she also struggled at the start but grew into the tie.
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She struggled to find consistency from the baseline as Bouzkova troubled her serve. Raducanu didn't have much issues finding breaks, but holding serve was a different story. There were six breaks in the first seven games of the match. But when she settled in, she took over. She went 10-1 in games from 2-4 down in the first set and completely turned the match in her favour in devastating fashion.
She breezed the second set 6-1 winning all but one game after starting her revival. In particular on her serve in the second set, she hardly conceded a point and after going 1-0 down broke at every single opportunity and often taking the one chance she was given by Bouzkova. Next up is Ons Jabeur who will start this Middle East swing as the poster woman as a huge fans favourite in the gulf for her trailblazing exploits for Tunisia. She will play the next few weeks with pressure, while Raducanu less so after knowing she was set to have a tough test coming into this week against Bouzkova then Jabeur.
But now that is off, she will look to show to those doubting her that there is life in the Brit yet after a torrid time following her US Open win. On first evidence though, she has picked up her best win yet since her comeback.
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