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British tennis star Emma Raducanu fought through some emotions during a roller-coaster match that ended in her first win since an early U.S. Open exit.
Raducanu battled back tears while securing a first-round, straight-set victory over Jaqueline Cristian (6-3, 6-4) at the Korea Open on Wednesday.
It was a welcome triumph in Raducanu’s first match since getting knocked out of the U.S. Open in the third round by Elena Rybakina last month. It took even longer than expected, as her return to the court — and ultimately, the victory column — was dragged out due to multiple rain delays.
Raducanu, 22, got off to a sloppy start with the first of six double faults and found the opening set tied at three games apiece. At that moment, cameras caught the tennis star wiping tears away from her eyes.
It’s uncertain what caused her to tear up — whether a product of pain, frustration or something else. But the 2021 U.S. Open champion’s tears didn’t stop her from getting the job done.
“Super happy to have won today,” Raducanu said after the match. “It hasn’t been easy. To have pulled through after waiting, I’m pleased with the way I came through.
“Tough conditions, very slow rallies, and long points, so happy to have got through it. A big thank you to everyone who came out here and supported through the rain. Thank you to everyone.”
The eighth-seeded Raducanu secured five aces, won points on 67 percent of her first serves and converted on five of seven break opportunities — a winning formula against the unranked Romanian, who took the first two games of the second set but couldn’t capitalize during her service games.
Raducanu, currently the No. 33-ranked WTA player, will face a first-time tour opponent, No. 39-ranked Barbora Krejčíková, in the second round of the Korea Open on Thursday.
