Raducanu loses to Muchova in Dubai second round

Karolina Muchova defeated Emma Raducanu in a close fight at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Early in the match, the British wildcard was concerned because Muchova broke up for a 2-0 lead and appeared to be crying and breathing heavily.

After missing a set point, Raducanu kept playing and was able to recover from a 4 to 4 deficit to win a tie-break.

Having secured an early break in the second, Muchova held off the 2021 US Open champion to seal a 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 victory.

After missing the majority of the 2023 season due to complications with her left ankle and both wrists, Raducanu, who reached the third round of the Australian Open last month, re-established her position in the world’s top 60 last year.

In the first round in Dubai, the 22-year-old ended a four-match losing streak – the worst of her career – with a straight-set win over Greece’s Maria Sakkari.

Before the match even started, Muchova broke early in the opening set and spoke to her Czech opponent, who appeared to be at peace with her.

Gauff lost to Kessler for the third time in a row in Dubai.

Third seed Gauff, 20, started the year on red-hot form, winning nine matches in a row.

Gauff has lost in the second round of the Qatar Open and Dubai Tennis Championships after receiving a bye in the first round of both tournaments since losing to Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

In an hour and 29 minutes, Kessler defeated her fellow American, winning five of the six break points, 6-4, 7-5.

It is the first top 10 victory of her career, while the 25-year-old is also into the third round of a WTA 1, 000 event for the first time.

Iga Swiatek defeated two-time major champion Victoria Azarenka to claim a 6-3, 6-4 victory over qualifier Veronika Kudermetova, while second seed Aryna Sabalenka won 6-0, 6-2.

Jasmine Paolini continued her title defence with a 6-2 7-5 victory over Germany’s Eva Lys, while Ons Jabeur fell to a 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 defeat by American Peyton Stearns.