Emma Raducanu bounces back from US Open disappointment with win over Peyton Stearns in Korea Open first round

Emma Raducanu produced an immediate response to her disappointing first-round US Open exit with an edgy 7-6 (4) 7-6 (5) victory over American Peyton Stearns in the Korea Open first round on Tuesday. Raducanu raced into a commanding lead in Seoul and held off multiple valiant fight-backs from the world No. 48 to set up a last 16 tie with China's Yue Yuan.

Alcaraz and his team-mates’ comical search for meaning of Davis Cup

Video credit: SNTV

Emma Raducanu got back to winning ways as she responded to her frustrating early US Open exit by downing Peyton Stearns 7-6 (4) 7-6 (5) to advance to the last 16 of the Korea Open in Seoul.

The tournament in South Korea is Raducanu's first taste of action since crashing out of the Grand Slam in New York against Sofia Kenin in the opening round.

"I am proud to have made it through to the next round," Raducanu said after the win. "It was tough, it was very humid, the balls were bouncing around a lot, it was a tough match to get through.

WTA Beijing

Raducanu beaten in ‘crazy match’ as Brit squanders multiple match points

29/09/2025 at 12:18

"I haven’t played many matches in the last few months and Peyton is a really good player in really good form, so I’m very pleased."

Raducanu's return was a cagey affair plagued with broken serves, but the 21-year-old responded well to thwart multiple comeback scares from her American counterpart.

The 2021 US Open champion raced into a 4-1 lead in the first set, breaking Stearns' opening three service games while also conceding one of her own.

'I feel sad, I feel down' - Tearful Raducanu on US Open exit

Video credit: SNTV

However, Raducanu's positive early work began to be undone by the American, who found a rich vein of momentum - leading an impressive charge to clinch four-straight games - with the chance to break Raducanu for a fourth time to claim the set.

The Brit rallied, though, and the pair locked horns all the way to a tie-break, which the 21-year-old settled with a three-point cushion.

The second set saw both players far more comfortable in their respective service games, until Raducanu finally seized an advantage with an impressive break to serve for the match at 5-3.

Stearns, though, once again found another gear to lead a fight-back, levelling the set at 5-5.

Raducanu was broken for the sixth time in the match to trail 6-5, but responded immaculately, returning the favour to love and forcing another tie-break.

She took a 1-0 lead before the pair traded mini-breaks, until Raducanu established a 6-4 lead.

Stearns finally clinched a mini-hold, but could not prevent the former US Open champion from wrapping up proceedings with two hours and 46 minutes on the clock.

Raducanu will face China's Yue Yuan in the last 16, with a potential meeting with No. 1 seed Daria Kasatkina in the quarter-final.

Watch and stream the 2024 Laver Cup live on Eurosport and discovery+

Tennis