Raducanu beaten by ‘lucky loser’ after needing medical help in Dubai

The Croatian Ruzic is serving for the match and starts with an ace. She then moves 30-0 up with a lovely backhand winner cross-court. Raducanu though is not giving up, making it 30-15 with a winner as she came towards the net.

Raducanu’s return goes long and Ruzic has two match points.

Raducanu goes long again and Ruzic is into the next round, winning 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. Raducanu is out.

This is a big service game to say the least for Raducanu; it feels like she has to hold serve now or else this match will be away from her. It is tight at 30-30 but Raducanu goes long, giving Ruzic a break point.

The Croatian takes it and moves 5-2 in this final set. She will serve for the match.

We are now past the two-hour mark in this match and it has been enthralling, swinging one way and then the other. Now is not the time to double fault but that Ruzic error gives Raducanu a 15-30 lead on the Croatian’s serve.

Ruzic though bounces back, winning the next three points to hold serve.

This match has been full of momentum swings; Ruzic was in complete control, then it swung in Raducanu’s favour but now it might be going back towards Ruzic. The Croatian moves to 15-30 up on the Raducanu serve and now the Briton is under pressure.

Raducanu finds the net and Ruzic has two break points. Raducanu saves the first of those but cannot save the second. To sum up the momentum shifting again, Raducanu was 2-0 up in this set and is now 2-3 down.

How does Ruzic deal with the shift in momentum and pressure that is now on her? Raducanu moves 0-30 up on the Ruzic serve but the Croatian responds to bring the game level at 30-30. However, Raducanu is then able to win the next point at the net and has a break point early in this deciding set.

Ruzic saves that break point in some style with a lovely forehand winner. Ruzic has then an advantage but Raducanu does not allow the Croatian to take it, smashing a backhand winner across the court to bring the game back to deuce.

Raducanu now has a second break point in this game but is not allowed to take it courtesy of a Ruzic ace. Here comes another break point for Raducanu and this would be big if she takes it. Again thought Ruzic saves the break. Raducanu has not been able to take advantage of all the break point she has had.

Ruzic has advantage but Raducanu returns emphatically on the second serve and the game is back at deuce. A double fault from Ruzic gives Raducanu another break point. Ruzic should save another break point but her shot as she came to the net inexplicably goes long. A big break of serve for Raducanu.

Raducanu’s tournament looked like it was going to be over just a matter of games ago but has taken this to a decider. Both players left the court during the break between sets. Raducanu will serve at the start of this deciding set.

Raducanu eases to a hold of serve, dropping just the one point, and now wins her fifth game on the trot. The roles have reversed from the first set, when Ruzic looked in complete control and Raducanu was making basic errors.

There were signs in the final two games of the second set that Raducanu’s body language was just starting to pick up.

She started fist-pumping when points went her way and seemed to move more on the baseline.

Raducanu seems to have carried that forward into the start of the decider as well.

Ruzic looked destined for victory 10 minutes ago but she has not had it all her own way in the last few games. The Croatian has to hold serve to take this set to a tie-break and this is a tight game, level at 30-30, and it could go either way.

Ruzic moves to 40-30 up but then finds the net so we are level at deuce.

At the end of a lengthy rally, Raducanu pulls off a stunning backhand winner and now has a set point.

Ruzic finds the net and Raducanu gets the break, winning the set 7-5. The British No 1 won four straight games to claim that set and take us to a decider.

Ruzic is serving for the match but starts with a double fault. The Croatian brings it back to 15-15 but then goes long to give Raducanu a 15-30 lead. Ruzic goes long again and now Raducanu has two break points. The British No 1 has spurned numerous break chances but can she take one of these?

She cannot take the first as she finds the net? Can she take the second break point? Yes she can and Raducanu brings the set level at 5-5.

Another double fault for Raducanu, her seventh of the match. Raducanu though bounces back to win the next two points to move 30-15 up. She should then move 40-15 up but somehow does not win the point after a lengthy rally, meaning Ruzic takes it to 30-30.

A stunning forehand winner puts Raducanu 40-30 up but an error from the Briton brings the game level at deuce. Raducanu then has advantage but finds the net so we go back to deuce.

Another advantage comes Raducanu’s way and this time she takes it as Ruzic hits the net. Raducanu stays alive but Ruzic will be serving for the match.

Not the start to this latest service game for Raducanu as she suffers her sixth double fault of the match but she responds by winning a good point at the net.

A stunning backhand winner down the line from Ruzic puts the Croatian 15-30 up. Another lovely winner, this time with her forehand, gives Ruzic two break points. The Croatian takes the first of those with a forehand winner across the court and is now 4-3 up in this set.

Can Raducanu put some pressure on the Ruzic serve and claim her first break? Ruzic moves 40-15 up but a superb forehand return from Raducanu keeps the game alive. Ruzic then goes long and we move to deuce.

Ruzic should see out the game with advantage but finds the net so we return to deuce. This is now Raducanu’s chance to get a break as she now has advantage on the Ruzic serve. She cannot take it though as she finds the net and we are back at deuce.

Ruzic wins the next two points to hold serve and level this set at 2-2. Raducanu has missed a number of opportunities to break Ruzic’s serve.

I was going to say that Raducanu seems to have improved this set, but there was a worrying moment in the last game where she almost seemed to decide not to chase down a ball.

Whether that’s because of the physical issue she received treatment for or something else, it’s a concerning sign.

Ruzic starts her latest service game with an ace. But Raducanu bounces back, winning the next three points to set up two break points. Ruzic saves the first of those with an ace down the centre. The Croatian is then able to save the second and we move to deuce.

Ruzic then has advantage but Raducanu pegs her back, taking the game back to deuce at the end of a lengthy point where Ruzic found the net at the end of it.

Ruzic then suffers a double fault and Raducanu has her third break point of this game. Ruzic is able to save it though courtesy of a great forehand winner across the court. Another break point comes Raducanu’s way as Ruzic misses with her backhand but once more the British No 1 cannot take it.

Break point number five incoming for Raducanu; can she finally take this one? No she cannot as Ruzic plays a lovely backhand winner cross-court.

Ruzic wins the next two points and somehow holds serve, managing to save five break points. A huge missed opportunity for Raducanu.

We are about to get back under way at the start of this second set, with Raducanu on serve, and she starts with a great ace down the centre. She races to 40-0 up but Ruzic stays alive with a forehand that went just in. Raducanu then goes long and perhaps some memories of her first service game of the first set will come back, when she led 40-0 on serve and was then broken.

But she will not be broken here as she seals the game with an ace.

It is fairly safe to say this has not gone to plan so far for Raducanu, who is looking quite disheartened and downbeat, seemingly with no answers. Ruzic goes 30-0 up but Raducanu responds, winning the next two points to go level at 30-30.

A stunning forehand across the court from Ruzic gives the Croatian set point, which she takes thanks to yet another unforced error from Raducanu, who goes long, which sums up her match so far.

That took Ruzic just half an hour to claim that first set.

Raducanu’s performance has been inconsistent at best. Although there have been a few aces, the number of mistakes has cost her the first set and could likely cost her the match.

It is worth reminding that she has been without a coach since her Australian Open exit and does not look like there is a clear direction out there on the court.

This is a non-negotiable really for Raducanu in this opening set, she simply has to hold serve to stay alive, but that is not the ideal start as Ruzic wins the first point with a lovely backhand winner across the court. Raducanu then makes a mistake and falls to 0-30 down, under big pressure.

Raducanu though delivers an ace when she badly needed it. But then comes a double fault, presenting Ruzic two break points. Too many errors right now from Raducanu, who does not have much rhythm.

It is back-to-back double faults and Ruzic will serve for the set.

Ruzic has started well but Raducanu is not helping herself right now. And that just about sums it up, with a double fault allowing Ruzic to move 15-40 up on the Raducanu serve and two break points are incoming for the Croatian.

Raducanu stays alive with a winner at the net and saves the first of the two break points. Can she save the second? Yes she can and in some style with an ace, her third of the match. Raducanu then move to advantage.

A long rally then ensues, which Ruzic looked destined to win on numerous occasions as Raducanu was forced to run around the court but somehow the British No 1 wins the point to hold serve crucially.

Raducanu responds well to being broken, winning the first point on Ruzic’s serve in this game, but a series of errors and loose shots are proving costly in the early stages of this match. Ruzic wins the next three points to go 40-15 up but Raducanu stays alive in the game, thanks to Ruzic’s first double fault of the match.

Raducanu finds the net with her backhand and Ruzic goes 3-0 up in this match. A poor start from Raducanu thus far, who has not begun well.

Raducanu finally registers her first point of the match, courtesy of an error from Ruzic, who finds the net with a backhand. That then gives Raducanu to win the next point with a strong backhand across the court to go 30-0 up.

Raducanu sends down her first ace of the match, with Ruzic unable to get across to her right to return. Raducanu thought she was going to win the game to love but a forehand shot that should have been the winner goes out. Ruzic keeps the game alive with a lovely forehand winner and now Raducanu is under a bit of pressure; she looked like she was easing to the game to love but now needs to win the next point to save the game going to deuce.

Raducanu goes long and we do go to deuce. Ruzic then wins the next point at the end of a lengthy rally and suddenly the Croatian has gone from 40-0 down to now having a break point. Raducanu needed that though, at risk of being broken, as she brings the game back to deuce with a fantastic forehand winner hit with some venom.

A fantastic ace down the centre gives advantage to Raducanu, but she is unable to take it. Now is not the time for a double fault for Raducanu as Ruzic now has a second break point. This time the Croatian takes the break point opportunity and moves 2-0 up in this match. Not a great start for Raducanu.

The Croatian Ruzic will serve first at the start of this match and starts off with a good serve to Raducanu’s right, with the Briton unable to get her return over the net. Ruzic follows that up with a superb forehand winner down the line. Another fantastic winner from Ruzic, this time with her forehand, and the Croatian has raced to 40-0 up.

Ruzic sees out the game with another great winner down the line with her backhand and wins the opening game to love. A confident start from Ruzic, not the best of beginnings from Raducanu.

The British No 1 sat down with our very own Simon Briggs towards the end of last year to talk about her stalker ordeal. Here is an excerpt from that piece:

“What did creep me out was I saw a photo of myself in London, and I didn’t see the paps [paparazzi photographers],” Raducanu explained. “I was with my two best friends. This happened last week, and it was like some tabloid article saying I had a new boyfriend or whatever. But it’s literally my best friend’s brother. I was like, ‘Come on guys. Be better.’

“We were going to the rugby, and of course, they cropped my best friend out [so that] it was just me and this guy, and I just didn’t see the paps. So that’s obviously creepy. How did they take this photo? But other than that, I feel good because someone’s always watching my back.”

The suspected stalker who left Emma Raducanu in tears in Dubai had shown up at the tennis venue despite an enhanced security detail being already in place around the Briton.

The 2021 US Open champion became distressed, and eventually broke down in tears, after spotting him among spectators in the early stages of her second-round defeat to Karolina Muchova.

Sources based in Dubai have since told Telegraph Sport the British No 2 had recognised him as the same suspect who approached her on Monday and handed over a letter.

Minutes into her second-round encounter, Raducanu hid behind the umpire’s chair and looked panicked as the umpire communicated for help, before the man was led away by authorities.

Emma Raducanu’s Dubai Tennis Championship campaign begins as she takes on Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic in the Round of 64, although the Croatian was not the opponent Raducanu had been preparing for. Raducanu was supposed to play the Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto in her opener in Dubai but Cocciaretto pulled out with a thigh injury a matter of hours before the game, which has meant that Ruzic has been drafted in at the last minute. An encounter Cocciaretto threatened to be quite a tough match-up as the Italian beaten Coco Gauff in straight sets at the Qatar Open last week but it will be the world number 67 Croatian for Raducanu today.

Ruzic in fact lost her qualifier for this tournament to Slovakian Rebecca Šramková but has benefitted from one of a number of withdrawals ahead of this tournament in Dubai. Ruzic, who is the highest-ranked Croatian in the women’s world rankings, has never competed in the Dubai Tennis Championship main event before. She is also going to take part in the Women’s Doubles alongside Petra Marcinko, with their Round of 32 match against the German pair of Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva taking place tomorrow.

Raducanu’s Qatar Open campaign meanwhile did not go particularly well. She was forced to retire during her Round of 64 match against Camila Osorio a week ago. Raducanu, who had won the first set 6-2 before losing the second 6-4, called the trainer out to have her blood pressure taken after being broken at the start of the third set. Raducanu was then forced to retire two games into the first set.

A few days before that retirement at the Qatar Open, Raducanu had featured in her first final since winning the US Open in 2021, but was beaten 6-0, 6-2 by Romanian Sorana Cirstea at the Transylvania Open.

This tournament will bring back some horrible memories for Raducanu, who broke down in tears and hid behind the umpire’s chair during her second-round defeat to Karolina Muchova due to the presence of a stalker. Raducanu subsequently dropped the charges against her suspected stalker after he signed a form promising to distance himself from the British tennis player.

These two have never met each other on the WTA tour so who will win the first-ever match-up? The match is set to get under way soon on Court 2.

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