British tennis star Emma Raducanu has won her first match since April following a lengthy injury lay-off.
The 2021 US Open winner beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse in three sets in the first round of the ASB Classic in Auckland.
Raducanu, 21, who had slipped to 301st in the world rankings, survived a fightback from the Romanian qualifier to progress 6-3 4-6 7-5 in two hours and 27 minutes.
In hospital after wrist surgery in May. Pic: Emma Raducanu
The former British number one played only nine matches in 2023, as she missed eight months of action following operations on both wrists and an ankle.
Raducanu will play second seed Elina Svitolina in the last 16 and said she was “grateful to be able to move my body and not be bedridden or in a wheelchair.
“It’s pretty amazing to just be out here and playing. I’m really happy to be back on the tour and can’t wait to start this season and carry on hopefully injury-free and healthy.”
After Raducanu took the first set in just 37 minutes, Ruse – the world number 134 – fought back to win the second.
Raducanu, who reached a career-high 10th in the world rankings in July…
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2024-01-02 10:40:00
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