British world No. 61 Emma Raducanu in tears on court during defeat to Karolina Muchova at 2025 Dubai Championships
ByOli Gent
Updated 19/02/2025 at 07:56 GMT
Emma Raducanu was in floods of tears during her second-round defeat to Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Championships. The Briton fell in straight sets to the Czech 14th seed, losing 7-6(6) 6-4 after a long rain delay that lasted four hours had forced the match to begin at 10pm local time. Raducanu was seen crying into her towel at 2-0 down in the opening set and was checked on by her opponent.
Emma Raducanu
Image credit: Getty Images
Emma Raducanu was brought to tears during her second-round loss to Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Championships.
The British world No. 61 lost 7-6(6) 6-4 to the 14th seed in two hours and seven minutes, but she rallied well to produce an impressive comeback at the end of the first set.
The 2021 US Open was seen wiping away tears with her towel at 3-0 in the first set, and Muchova approached her at the changeover to ensure that she was in a fit state to continue.
Raducanu was able to restore her composure, and produced a stirring fightback from 4-0 and a double break down to 5-5, forcing a deciding first-set breaker.
The pair traded mini-breaks in the early exchanges of the tiebreak, but it was Raducanu who blinked next, dropping a set point of her own before Muchova took full advantage.
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The former French Open finalist continued her momentum into the second set, breaking Raducanu in the opening game, and she staved off three break points in the sixth game as Raducanu threatened to keep the contest competitive.
Both players had had to contend with a four-hour delay to the match following rain, with the encounter not starting until 10pm local time.
Raducanu will feel disappointed at the defeat, but will take confidence from ending a four-match losing streak with her first-round win over Maria Sakkari.
The loss came on the same day that Raducanu, the British No. 2, was confirmed to play in the inaugural women's tournament at Queen's Club during the grass-court swing, alongside British No. 1 Katie Boulter.
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