Emma Raducanu secured a hard-fought victory against American Peyton Stearns in the first round of the Korea Open, advancing to the round of 16 in Seoul. The former US Open champion edged past Stearns in a grueling match that lasted 2 hours and 43 minutes, winning 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5). The match featured multiple service breaks and tense moments, but Raducanu showed resilience to seal the win.
Raducanu Returns to Winning Ways
This victory marked Raducanu’s first win since late July when she defeated Stearns in Washington. The 21-year-old has had a challenging season, with her only match in August being a disappointing first-round exit at the US Open, where she lost to Sofia Kenin. Following that defeat, Raducanu expressed frustration and admitted she had made an error in her scheduling by not playing more matches during the summer.
Determined to turn things around, Raducanu has planned a more active schedule for the remainder of the season. Her positive start in Seoul, despite some shaky moments, shows promise. In the first set against Stearns, Raducanu jumped to a 4-1 lead and held a 40-0 advantage on her serve. However, she faltered, losing four consecutive games and missing two set points while serving at 6-5. The set eventually went to a tiebreak, where Raducanu held her nerve to win 7-6 (4).
A Second Set Filled with Drama
The second set saw both players hold serve until Raducanu broke Stearns to take a 5-3 lead. Just as it seemed she was about to close out the match, her serving woes returned. Stearns, ranked 48th in the world and 22 spots ahead of Raducanu, broke back and took a 6-5 lead after winning three straight games. Yet, she couldn’t maintain the momentum, losing her serve at the critical moment, sending the set to another tiebreak. Raducanu kept her composure in the second tiebreak, clinching the match and securing her place in the last 16.
Raducanu will next face China’s eighth seed, Yuan Yue. Reflecting on her victory, Raducanu said, “I’m proud to make it through to the next round. It was extremely humid, and the ball was bouncing all over the place. It was a tough match. I haven’t played many matches recently, and Peyton is an excellent player who’s been in great form.”
Raducanu’s successful start in Seoul could signal a strong finish to a season that has been plagued by inconsistency.
