Raducanu loses in Singapore Open first round

In the opening round of the Singapore Open, Spaniard Cristina Bucsa defeated British star Emma Raducanu.

The 22-year-old was first playing since her 6-1, 6-0 third round defeat to Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open when she learned that her coach, Nick Cavaday, was stepping down to “prioritize getting back into full health.”

But in a gruelling encounter lasting three hours and three minutes and featuring 17 breaks of service, Bucsa came through 5-7 7-5 7-5 against the seventh seed in the pair’s first meeting.

At 5-4, the Spaniard had already started the set, but Raducanu, a 56-ranked player, racked up the match’s final three games before losing.

Raducanu continued to lead the second set after three straight breakups of service, which gave her a lead of 3-1 and 4-2. She then went 5-4 up, but Bucsa responded with the match’s third and final three games.

In the decider, both players struggled to hold serve, but Bucsa held on until a weary Raducanu broke her opponent’s serve at a crucial moment, allowing her to serve the match.

The British number two saved a few match points, but Raducanu, the Olympic women’s doubles medalist, quickly added another, adding this time with Raducanu.

In the last 16, Bucsa will next face Thaiman Mananchaya Sawangkaew or Chinese Sijia Wei.

In the second round of qualifying for the Austrian Linz Open, Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic defeated British number five Jodie Burrage.