Emma Raducanu suffered defeat on her return to motion on Monday as Greece’s Maria Sakkari beat her 6-3 3-6 6-1 within the United Cup, dwell on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
Raducanu was making her first aggressive outing since mid-October, having ended final season early amid bodily struggles in China. She pulled out of her earlier conflict in opposition to Naomi Osaka, though it didn’t bother Nice Britain an excessive amount of as they began their United Cup marketing campaign with a 2-1 win over Japan in Perth.
Britain’s second contest introduced defeat for Raducanu, although, in a loss that adopted Billy Harris shedding to Stefanos Tsitsipas as Greece sealed victory.
Harris received the primary set however finally Tsitsipas prevailed 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7-4).
In Raducanu’s contest, regardless of the Brit shifting a break forward early within the opening set, Sakkari fought again to assert it by profitable six of the final seven video games.
It was the primary set Sakkari had managed to win in opposition to the previous US Open champion – with their first assembly coming throughout Raducanu’s well-known run to the US Open title in 2021.
Raducanu has beforehand been in a position to break down Sakkari and pressure her right into a slew of errors nevertheless it was a special story this time.
Raducanu can take encouragement from the way in which she fought again from a break all the way down to win the second set however, as she did in a number of matches on the finish of final season, the world quantity 29 light shortly within the decider.
Certainly, there was just one winner within the third set, as Sakkari proved a lot the stronger.
Britain’s Emma Raducanu suffered defeat on the United Cup on her return to tennis
Raducanu sat down with Sky Sports activities’ Laura Robson earlier than the beginning of the United Cup in Australia the place she admitted to feeling a couple of butterflies forward of the brand new season.
“You do have it [butterflies] because also you don’t see the same faces for a while and then all of a sudden you’re seeing the same faces and you’re reminded of how it feels,” stated the British No 1.
“You get out of the kind of habit of playing tournaments and matches. So I think that will also be interesting to deal with and cope with.”
The 23-year-old, who may very well be seeded on the yr’s first Grand Slam, joined her staff for a visit to Rottnest Island, simply off Perth, the place she opened up on the misconceptions on life as a tennis participant.
She stated: “When we went to Rottnest, it was a four and a half-hour round trip for 20 minutes on the island. But I think the public would only see the photo that was taken on the island.
“At 7am we needed to be within the fitness center after which 9 to 1.30 Rottnest after which 2.30 to 4.35 tennis after which remedy until like 7pm so by the point you get again and all the pieces, the day goes like that. That’s simply a part of our life that like we do not put up about all of the work that we’re doing as effectively.
“The media things that we do is the same as the training we do because it’s part of the job. So I think that is probably one of the misconceptions.”
Able to deploy her versatility
Raducanu has been coaching together with her coach Francis Roig
Raducanu excused herself from a few exhibition matches in america final month so as to regain full health for the 2026 season. Some gentle bone bruising on her proper foot was an element however was not thought to cease her from final month’s pre-season preparations alongside new coach Francis Roig in Barcelona.
“He’s a big advocate for me using my skills because I think that’s a great part of my game is the ability to mix things up and change the play,” the world No 29 stated.
“It’s nice to feel just pretty set going into the year. I haven’t really had this feeling strangely, but it’s nice. And we’re working towards just feeling good and feeling ready and prepared and really, hard working and serious when we’re on, but also a relaxed way when we go into it.”
Britain’s Jones claims greatest win of profession over Navarro
Nice Britain’s Fran Jones claimed the largest win of her profession thus far to defeat world No 15 Emma Navarro within the first spherical of the ASB Traditional.
British No 3 Jones beat the American number-two seed 7-5 2-6 6-4 in her first match of 2026 to advance to the second spherical in Auckland, the place she is going to play Austrian qualifier Sinja Kraus.
Fran Jones celebrates throughout her match in opposition to Emma Navarro
Jones received the primary set after a decisive break of Navarro’s serve on the resumption of play after a rain delay at 5-5 after which, after shedding the second set, went a break up on the American’s second service sport of the third.
She was not damaged on her personal serve thereafter and sealed victory, her first over a participant ranked within the high 20.
Navarro received extra factors throughout the match and Jones stated in her on-court interview after securing a memorable victory: “I’m absolutely knackered!
“For the primary match of the yr, I did not make it straightforward, to be trustworthy. However I am actually grateful, grateful for my staff, I have been troublesome the previous few days, attempting to prepare for the season is all the time actually difficult for each participant.
“Emma can play a better level, everyone can play a better level. It’s about finding your feet but, for me, just having the right attitude first match coming into the year is the most important thing, so thankfully I did that.”
Jones, 25, has twice reached semi-finals on the WTA Tour, together with her second coming final September in Sao Paulo.
She is at present ranked 72rd on the planet, one place larger than her profession greatest achieved final October.
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