Emma Raducanu ended her four-match losing streak with a straight-set win over Greece’s Maria Sakkari in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Raducanu, 22, had not won a match since mid-January. She entered the tournament after losing her last four matches, marking the worst streak of her career. However, she took just one hour and 20 minutes to defeat the world number 29, Sakkari, with a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Her last win came at the Australian Open on January 16, where she beat American Amanda Anisimova in the second round. In her match against Sakkari, Raducanu broke serve in the first game of both sets. Despite losing her serve twice, she quickly broke back in both instances.
“There were some momentum shifts during the match,” Raducanu said. “When I got broken twice early, I regrouped well and managed to break back each time. I was really pleased with how I fought and competed. Maria is a top player, and she’s been as high as number three in the world. I’m proud of my performance.”
Raducanu will face Czech 14th seed Karolina Muchova in the second round. Muchova defeated Dutch player Suzan Lamens 6-2, 6-2.
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