Emma Raducanu Battles Through Gruelling Korea Open Opener Against Stearns

Emma Raducanu marked her return to the tennis court with a gritty and hard-fought win over American Peyton Stearns in the opening round of the Korea Open in Seoul. After an intense two hours and 43 minutes, the British number one secured a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) victory in what proved to be a challenging match, both physically and mentally.

This win, Raducanu’s first since her disappointing first-round exit at the US Open, came as she battled not just a talented opponent, ranked 48th in the world, but also the sweltering, humid conditions in South Korea’s capital. Currently ranked 70th, Raducanu expressed her satisfaction at making it through to the next round, acknowledging the difficulty of the contest.

"I'm proud to have made it through to the next round. It was tough and very humid," said Raducanu post-match. "Peyton is a really good player in good form, so I'm really pleased."

Raducanu got off to a strong start, breaking Stearns in the opening game. However, her advantage was quickly erased when she lost her own serve in the next game. The first set became a tug of war, with both players struggling to maintain their serves. A total of eight breaks occurred in the opening set, making for an unpredictable and tightly contested affair. After 74 minutes of relentless exchanges, Raducanu finally edged out Stearns in the tiebreak to claim the first set.

The second set was no less dramatic. With both players saving crucial break points, Raducanu appeared to take control, breaking Stearns to lead 5-3 and serving for the match. But true to the rhythm of this topsy-turvy encounter, she too faltered, allowing Stearns to break back. The American had an opportunity to push the match into a deciding set when she served at 6-5 but failed to close it out, leading to another tiebreak.

Despite the pressure, Raducanu held her nerve, prevailing in the second tiebreak to seal the victory. The second set alone lasted 89 minutes, underscoring the back-and-forth nature of the contest and the resilience both players displayed throughout.

Raducanu now advances to the next round, where she will face China's Yue Yuan, currently ranked 40th in the world. The British star will be looking to build on her momentum as she navigates the challenges ahead in Seoul.

The match against Stearns demonstrated Raducanu's tenacity and willingness to grind through tough conditions, offering a glimpse of the determination that saw her win the US Open in 2021. As she continues her return to form, Raducanu's next challenge against the higher-ranked Yuan promises another tough encounter.