British tennis player Emma Raducanu faced a surprising defeat in the opening round of the Singapore Open, losing to Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in a marathon match lasting over three hours. Raducanu, seeded seventh and ranked 56th globally, was edged out with scores of 5-7, 7-5, 7-5.
Match Highlights
The encounter was characterized by 17 service breaks, highlighting the intense back-and-forth between the players. Raducanu secured the first set after overturning a 5-4 deficit, winning three consecutive games. In the second set, Bucsa, ranked 101st, capitalized on Raducanu’s serving inconsistencies, leveling the match. The final set saw both players struggling to hold serve, but Bucsa ultimately prevailed, breaking Raducanu at a critical juncture to clinch the victory.
Recent Challenges for Raducanu
This defeat comes shortly after Raducanu’s third-round exit at the Australian Open, where she was defeated by world number one Iga Świątek. Additionally, Raducanu recently parted ways with her coach, Nick Cavaday, due to his health concerns. In SingaporeSin, she was supported by her mother, Renee, and new fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura.
Bucsa’s Next Challenge
Following her victory over Raducanu, Bucsa advances to the round of 16, where she will face Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
