WTA Linz: Emma Raducanu loses the opening game in three sets
Emma Raducanu was eliminated in the second round of the WTA 250 tournament in Linz. The US Open winner lost to Xinyu Wang 1: 6, 7: 6 (0) and 5: 7.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Nov 09, 2021, 08:40 pm
"My goal this week is to simply have fun and enjoy the tournament at the end of the season," said Emma Raducanu before the start of the WTA 250 tournament in Linz. Off the field, the Briton pursued pleasant activities in the Upper Austrian capital with a photo session at the new railway bridge, but the 18-year-old should then lose the fun relatively quickly on the court.
Because Raducanu, who was initially equipped with a bye as the top seed, clearly lost the first set against the Chinese Xinyu Wang with 1: 6. In the second round, the reigning US Open winner found the game a little better and even led twice with a break advantage, but in the end a tiebreak had to bring the decision. In this one, Radcuanu unpacked her best tennis and didn't leave a single point to Wang.
The world rankings 106. But that didn’t bother him and took the serve from Raducanu, who was hit on the hip from the middle of the third set, to make it 5: 4. After a break in treatment, the 18-year-old fended off two match balls and managed the rebreak, only to give up her serve immediately afterwards. In the second attempt, Wang then served the match home. She now meets Alison Riske.
For the top seeded Raducanu, however, the season is over after the 1: 6, 7: 6 (0) and 5: 7 defeat. The number two of the tournament, Simona Halep, meanwhile qualified for the quarter-finals .