Auckland Open: Emma Raducanu displays incredible tenacity in comeback victory

Despite a prolonged rain delay, Raducanu recovered to win the second and third sets after losing the first to the 17-year-old Czech player.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🇬🇧Raducanu starts 2023 with a win<br><br>✅The 2021 US Open champion defeated Linda Fruhvirtova in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Auckland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Auckland</a> 4-6, 6-4, 6-2<br><br>✅First Raducanu&#39;s win since Korean Open in September <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AucklandOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AucklandOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/r5yzQVSj7b">pic.twitter.com/r5yzQVSj7b</a></p>&mdash; The Net magazine • (@thenet_m) <a href="https://twitter.com/thenet_m/status/1610223286377672710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Raducanu is optimistic that she will stay in shape and demonstrate that she can reach the same heights as her 2021 US Open victory.

“I started hitting quite late,” she said. “I did two months of physical, like gym work. Tennis I started hitting properly again [on December 9], so it was pretty soon, and I started playing points like literally [a few days later].

“Quite early days on the tennis front, but I think it’s positive how I was able to put out a decent level against Ons after not having played much at all. I think that’s pretty positive. And physically just trying to work on a better base and foundation for next year so hopefully I can be more robust and last longer and be able to play a full calendar.”

Meanwhile, rising Chinese star Zheng Qinwen showed that she could be one to watch in 2023.

In the opening round of the concurrent Adelaide International one on Tuesday, the WTA's 2022 Newcomer of the Year stunned sixth seed and former World's No. two Anett Kontaveit by scores of 6-1, 4-6, and 7-6. (7).

The audience was riveted for the entire two hours and twenty-eight-minute thriller in which she avoided a match point in the decisive set.

Zheng gained an early lead in the match, winning the first set quickly before soaring to a 6-1, 4-2 advantage at the hour mark.

Although Kontaveit mounted a spirited comeback in what turned out to be a thrilling and entertaining match, she wasn't going to go gently into the Adelaide night.