Raducanu Falls to Ruzic in Dubai as Illness, Fatigue Continue to Hinder British No. 1
Emma Raducanu’s return to the court in Dubai ended in disappointment as she was knocked out in the opening round by Croatian lucky loser Antonia Ruzic, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. It was a gritty, rollercoaster match that saw flashes of the Raducanu we know-resilient, relentless, and capable of turning a match on its head-but physical limitations ultimately told the story.
Originally scheduled to face Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Raducanu’s opponent changed just hours before the match after Cocciaretto withdrew with a thigh injury-understandable, considering she had played eight matches in eight days. That opened the door for Ruzic, ranked No. 67 in the world, who had lost in the first round of qualifying but was pulled into the main draw as a late replacement.
For Raducanu, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Just days removed from retiring in her first-round match in Doha due to high blood pressure-and only two days after a draining run to the Transylvania Open final-she looked physically compromised from the outset.
After dropping the first set in just 30 minutes, she called for both the physio and the doctor. The signs were clear: this wasn’t just about form or rhythm; her body was struggling to keep up.
Still, Raducanu showed the kind of mental toughness that made her a Grand Slam champion. Despite multiple missed break chances and movement that looked a touch off, she clawed her way back in the second set.
Down 5-3 and on the brink of defeat, she saved multiple break points and finally converted a break of her own-the eighth time of asking-to flip the momentum. She rattled off four straight games to take the second set in 65 minutes, injecting some life into the match and giving fans a glimpse of her fighting spirit.
Momentum seemed to carry into the decider when Raducanu broke early and jumped out to a 2-0 lead. But Ruzic, who came into the match on a five-match losing streak, found another gear. The Croatian No. 1 reeled off six straight games to close out the match in two hours and 20 minutes, capitalizing on Raducanu’s fading physicality.
It’s another frustrating chapter in what’s been an up-and-down stretch for Raducanu. The talent is undeniable, but the challenge continues to be staying healthy and finding consistency in her schedule. With Indian Wells and the Miami Open-the so-called “Sunshine Double”-just around the corner, the Brit will be hoping to reset and recharge in time for two of the biggest non-Slam events on the calendar.
Dubai Draw Shaken by Withdrawals
Raducanu wasn’t the only player affected by the chaos in Dubai this week. The tournament has been rocked by a wave of withdrawals, with injuries, illness, and scheduling conflicts reshaping the main draw.
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, fresh off a breakout run to the Qatar Open final, had to pull out with a right elbow issue. Her withdrawal marked the seventh lucky loser to enter the main draw-an unusually high number for a WTA 1000 event.
Big names have also exited before hitting the court. World No.
2 Aryna Sabalenka withdrew due to a minor hip issue, while Iga Swiatek and Karolina Muchova opted out due to scheduling changes. Maria Sakkari and Zheng Qinwen both cited illness.
It’s been a turbulent lead-up to one of the most prestigious events outside the Grand Slams, and the revised draw has opened the door for lower-ranked players to make deep runs.
Choinski's Doha Run Ends in Round One
On the men’s side, British qualifier Jan Choinski saw his promising run at the Qatar Open come to an end in a hard-fought three-set loss to rising Czech star Jakub Mensik, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-4.
Choinski, the British No. 4, had battled through qualifying and edged Quentin Halys in a final-set tie-break to reach the main draw. He kept that momentum going early against Mensik, taking the opening set in a tight tiebreaker. But the wheels came off in the second as he dropped his first two service games, and Mensik took control from there.
Even in the third, Choinski had a shot-grabbing an early break and going up 2-0. But Mensik, ranked No. 16 in the world, showed his class and composure, breaking back and eventually sealing the match with a final break at 5-4.
For Choinski, it’s still a step forward. He showed he can hang with top-20 talent and compete on a big stage. But as with Raducanu, the next step is turning flashes into full performances-and finding a way to string them together consistently.