Emma Raducanu has progressed to the round of 16 in the Abu Dhabi Open after a remarkable 6-4, 6-1 victory over Marie Bouzkova, who is currently ranked 26th in the world.
The 21-year-old overcame a sluggish start and won 10 out of the last 11 games, earning a spot in the next round where she will face the tournament’s second seed, Ons Jabeur. This was yet another impressive performance from Raducanu, following her victory against Shelby Rogers in the first round of the Australian Open last month.
Raducanu’s aggressive tactics stunned Bouzkova, a 2022 Wimbledon quarter-finalist, as she hit back from an early break to reel off four games in a row and take the first set. There was no looking back in the second set as she pressed home her advantage to seal another encouraging win.
“I believe initially I was simply adapting to the pace of the court. I had not yet played on this court this year,” Raducanu stated following the match. “It was quite fast and also much calmer than it had been during the week due to the strong winds, so the tempo was different.”
“Marie proved to be a formidable opponent. I was well aware that I would have to return a lot of shots, and at first, I struggled with some of the final shots. However, I was able to improve on that and I am pleased with my performance.”
Raducanu made a comeback at the Auckland Open, after being away for eight months due to wrist and ankle surgeries. She put up a strong fight against Elina Svitolina, pushing the match to three sets. However, her journey in Melbourne was cut short in the second round, where she battled through a stomach bug to give China’s Wang Yafan a tough match that lasted nearly three hours.
Raducanu will face Jabeur, who has reached the Wimbledon finals twice and is currently ranked sixth in the world, in their first meeting. This will be another challenge for Raducanu to demonstrate her improved performance and determination after injuries disrupted her 2023 season.
Source: theguardian.com
