Emma Raducanu broke through her recent slump with style on Sunday, securing a strong win against world No. 29 Maria Sakkari. This win at the Dubai Tennis Championships came as a refreshing moment for the 22-year-old British player, who expressed being “really proud” of her performance.
In a match lasting just an hour and 20 minutes, Raducanu outplayed her Greek opponent with a 6-4, 6-2 victory. She set the tone early by breaking Sakkari in the first game of both sets, a strategy that paved her way to triumph.
Reflecting on her approach, Raducanu shared, “I focused hard on each point that came before me. Even when the momentum shifted and I lost serve early in the sets, I quickly gathered myself and broke back immediately on both occasions.”
Emma Raducanu’s ability to rebound was evident in her match against a formidable opponent like Maria. Sakkari, having once ranked as high as third in the world, posed a significant challenge. Raducanu added, “I’m genuinely pleased with how I competed. She’s one of the top players, and delivering this performance makes me proud.”
This victory comes as a relief after Raducanu’s recent struggles on the court. She had exited the Australian Open in January after losing to world No. 2 Iga Swiatek and faced three more defeats in subsequent matches. Her struggles continued with a first-round loss in Qatar on February 9, where she didn’t manage to win a set against Ekaterina Alexandrova. Similar early exits marked her appearances in Singapore and Abu Dhabi prior to this.
Nevertheless, Sunday’s success marks another win for Raducanu against Sakkari, maintaining a perfect record in their head-to-head encounters without dropping a set. One memorable meeting was during her remarkable run in the 2021 US Open semifinals.
When asked about this unbeaten run against Sakkari, Raducanu commented, “In many ways, our play styles are quite similar, she’s really athletic. I won’t spill all my tactical secrets, but playing against her is always tough. That’s why I’m thrilled to have come out on top in these big tournaments and excited to advance to the next round.”
Next up, Raducanu is set to face Karolina Muchova in the second round on Tuesday.
