Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu won 10 of the last 11 games to claim a 6-4 6-1 win over Marie Bouzkova and set up a last-16 meeting with Ons Jabeur in Abu Dhabi; Raducanu was making her first appearance since her Australian Open exit
Emma Raducanu is through to the second round of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open after despatching Marie Bouzkova in straight sets.
Raducanu, playing in just her third tournament of the year and first since her second-round exit at the Australian Open, took 82 minutes to see off her Czech opponent 6-4 6-1 in the final match of the day.
The former US Open champion recovered from a slow start to break Bouzkova three times in the opening set and win four consecutive games to prevail 6-4, then took control of the match by breaking her twice early in the second.
Raducanu completed her impressive victory – her first over a player in the world’s top 100 in 11 months – to safely book a last-16 meeting with second seed Ons Jabeur, who received a bye through the opening round
Raducanu enjoys winning start
Raducanu, a wildcard entry into the WTA 500 event after missing the bulk last year due to injury, made a slow start to a tight first set that saw six consecutive games go against serve.
The 21-year-old won back-to-back service games to love to battle back from 4-2 down to move 5-4 ahead as she continued to grow into the match, then fired an unreturned forehand to see out the opening set.
Raducanu dominated the second and put pressure on the Bouzkova serve, breaking her opponent in a tight third game of the set before holding to love in the next to close in on victory.
