Emma Raducanu triumphed in her highly-anticipated comeback from injury with a resilient three-set victory against Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the opening round of the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The previous top-ranked British player, who had surgeries on both wrists and one ankle, won 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 against a Romanian qualifier in her first match since April. She will face the second seed, Elina Svitolina, in a challenging last-16 match as she prepares for the Australian Open.
“It’s been challenging after such a long break, but I am thankful to be in good health and able to move freely without being bedridden or confined to a wheelchair,” said Raducanu after her victory in two hours and 27 minutes on the court. “It’s truly incredible to be back playing and I am overjoyed to be back on the tour. I am looking forward to the upcoming season and hoping to remain injury-free and in good health.”
Raducanu, the wildcard in the tournament, had fallen to 301 in the world rankings. However, she has since resumed her career and stated that she feels “reborn” and relieved from the pressure of her US Open victory in 2021.
After only playing nine matches in 2023, she did not seem to have any issues with rustiness at first. She was able to win the first set in just 37 minutes, taking advantage of her third break point in the eighth game. However, her hopes of an easy win were soon dashed as her opponent, Ruse, fought back. Ruse, ranked 134th in the world, saved three break points in the first game of the second set, which lasted 11 minutes. She then went on to win two of Raducanu’s next three service games, shifting the momentum in her favor.
After initially trailing 5-2, Raducanu displayed determination to bring the match back to an even serve, but ultimately struggled to maintain her hold and the match went to a deciding set. Despite facing a determined opponent in Ruse, the 21-year-old showcased moments of her exceptional play, including a beautiful backhand slice winner. Despite facing challenges, she refused to be defeated and ultimately secured a hard-fought victory. However, she did experience a setback when she lost a 5-2 lead in the final set and was unable to take advantage of two match points on her opponent’s serve. Nevertheless, she persevered and ultimately came out on top, demonstrating her resilience after being sidelined for eight months.
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Raducanu expressed her gratitude to all those who braved the late and chilly weather to support her. She acknowledged the challenges of playing against a friend like Gabi and was grateful for the opportunity to compete in Auckland once again. She thanked everyone for their support and looked forward to the next round.
