Raducanu did not advance to the final set against Svitolina, resulting in her departure from the Auckland Classic.

Elina Svitolina made a comeback after losing the first set to defeat Emma Raducanu 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3), 6-1 in the second round of the ASB Classic in Auckland. Raducanu, who had previously beaten Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round, initially had the upper hand against the second-seeded Svitolina, but Svitolina managed to turn things around and secure her spot in the third round. Svitolina will now face Marie Bouzkova in the quarter-final as she gears up for the Australian Open.

The highest ranked British player, reaching No. 10 in the world in 2022, seemed to be on track to win the first set with a 5-1 lead. But Svitolina put up a strong fight and pushed for a tie-break, where Raducanu eventually emerged victorious. She is now focused on continuing her comeback after undergoing surgeries on both wrists and an ankle.

In the second set, the Ukrainian managed to break Raducanu’s serve, but the 2021 US Open winner retaliated and had a flawless service game leading to a second tie-break. Raducanu gained an advantage by breaking Svitolina’s serve twice at the beginning, but Svitolina, ranked 25th in the world, refused to give up and fought back with six consecutive points, forcing a third set.

Raducanu could not handle the last set, being broken early on. Svitolina dominated with a 5-0 lead.

Raducanu managed to avoid being shut out in a set by successfully holding her serve, but Svitolina ultimately secured an easy victory. “I can acknowledge that I maintained a strong level for two full sets,” Raducanu stated. “I’m proud of how quickly I was able to elevate my game, as Elina is a tough opponent who doesn’t give anything away. Being able to play at my best for two sets, in just my second match back… the level was raised quickly.”

Svitolina mentioned that it was an excellent match between the two of them. She acknowledged that Emma played exceptionally well and it was a physically challenging game. She hopes to recuperate for the upcoming match tomorrow.

I am pleased with how I managed high-pressure situations and it’s a fantastic way to begin the year.”