Massive Setback for Emma Raducanu as She Retires Midway in the Longest WTA Match of 2022

Emma Raducanu hasn’t had an ideal start to the new season. After the highs of the previous, which saw her become the first qualifier to lift the US Open title, much was expected of her coming into this season. However, she has suffered another setback in Mexico. The British tennis sensation had to retire midway through the opening round clash against Australia’s Daria Saville at the Abierto Akron Zapopan in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Emma Raducanu bows out of the WTA 250 tournament in Guadalajara

The 19-year-old was the top-seed and the favorite to lift her first title of the season in Mexico. Further, she started the match on the front foot against the 610th ranked opponent.  However, the first set was a toe-to-toe battle, with both the players finding it difficult to hold their serves.

Raducanu broke Daria’s serve thrice in the first set while she failed to hold her serve twice. Additionally, the two committed several double-faults in the first with Raducanu double-faulting on four occasions and Daria committing eight double-faults. Eventually, the British star won the first set 7-5.

Further, the second set panned out in a similar fashion. Both the players broke each-others serve thrice as the set progressed to the tie-breaker. The Australian won some crucial points in the tie-breaker to come back strongly in the match. She won the second-set 7-6 (7-4).

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The match proceeded into the third set with momentum favoring the Australian. She continued to impress further, breaking Raducanu’s serve, while saving two break points on her serve. When Raducanu was trailing 4-3 in the deciding set, she decided to retire due to an apparent injury. It was a marathon match lasting 3 hours and 36 minutes.

Raducanu’s 2022 season

The British tennis star couldn’t live up to the expectations in this season so far. In her first tournament at the Sydney Tennis Classic, she lost in the opening round to Elena Rybakina. Further, in the Australian Open, she suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Danka Kovinic in the second round.

The tournament in Mexico was her first since the Australian Open debacle. She would be disappointed with her unfortunate injury and hope to come back stronger in the coming tournaments. We wish Raducanu a quick recovery.

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