Emma Raducanu Wins Marathon Match Against Stearns

Emma Raducanu secured a hard-fought victory against Peyton Stearns in the first round of the Korea Open in Seoul, winning 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5). This marked Raducanu’s first match since her early exit from the US Open. The Briton, ranked 70th in the world needed two hours and 43 minutes to overcome Stearns, the world number 48. After the match, Raducanu expressed her satisfaction with the result, noting the difficulty of the conditions: “It was tough and very humid… I’m proud to have made it through.”

The match was competitive from the start with Raducanu breaking Stearns in the opening game. Although Stearns broke back immediately, Raducanu regained her advantage, signaling a pattern of fluctuating momentum. The first set featured eight breaks of serve before Raducanu ultimately claimed it in a tie-break after 74 minutes. The second set followed a similarly tense trajectory with both players saving break points.

Emma Raducanu eventually secured a break to go up 5-3 but struggled to close out the match on her serve. Stearns also missed her opportunity to serve out the set when she led 6-5, leading to another tie-break. Raducanu kept her nerve and clinched the match after an 89-minute second set. Reflecting on the match, Raducanu praised her opponent, acknowledging Stearns’ strong form.

She also noted her own lack of match practice in recent months, making the win even more significant. With this victory, Raducanu advances to the next round where she will face world number 40, Yue Yuan from China.