Emma Raducanu’s attempt to advance to the quarter-finals of the Abu Dhabi Open came to an end when she lost in two sets to the sixth-ranked player, Ons Jabeur.
Raducanu from Britain has been making positive progress in her return to the court after undergoing surgery on her wrists and ankle, which kept her out of the game for eight months. The 21-year-old was able to challenge three-time grand slam finalist Jabeur in the first set, which was a close one.
However, Tunisian Jabeur, who was the second-place finisher at Wimbledon in the previous two tournaments, proved to be too formidable in a 6-4, 6-1 win. Raducanu lost her serve in the opening game and quickly fell behind with a double break at 5-1.
However, the winner of the 2021 US Open slowly started to demonstrate her exceptional ball striking abilities. She managed to save three set points and then broke Jabeur’s serve, bringing the score to 5-3. A determined hold of her own serve brought her within one game of her opponent.
In the following game, Jabeur successfully maintained her serve and won the first set in 50 minutes. In the beginning of the second set, she capitalized on her third break point to gain control of the match.
On this occasion, Raducanu, who had previously made it to the quarter-finals in September 2022, was unable to counter the barrage of winners from Jabeur – a total of 35 – and ultimately lost the match.
“It was not an easy match for me, clearly,” stated Jabeur, 29, during her post-match interview.
I am a huge admirer of Emma’s talent as a player. I send her my best wishes and believe she has even more potential to showcase.
Emma had a fantastic time at the US Open and she gained a large following. She has had an impressive career. Each person has their own unique journey, facing struggles and challenges. However, there are many remarkable women who compete on the tour.
Source: theguardian.com
