Emma Raducanu: British number two loses to Karolina Muchova at Dubai Tennis Championships

In the second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships, Emma Raducanu fought hard but ultimately lost to Karolina Muchova, ending her run in the tournament.

Early in the match, the British player, competing as a wild card, seemed to encounter some difficulties. After Muchova broke serve to take a 2-0 lead, Raducanu appeared distressed, with her breathing becoming rapid, causing concern. She seemed to be struggling to find her rhythm and composure on the court.

Despite this, Raducanu persevered and successfully fought back from a 0-4 deficit to level the score and force a tiebreak. However, after missing a set point, she eventually lost the tiebreak. Muchova broke serve at the start of the second set and successfully held her advantage, ultimately defeating the 2021 US Open champion with a score of 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.

Raducanu had previously reached the third round of the Australian Open last month. After missing most of the 2023 season due to wrist and left ankle surgeries, she returned to the world's top 60 last year. In the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships, the 22-year-old defeated Greek player Maria Sakkari in straight sets, ending her career-longest four-match losing streak.

After Muchova's early break in the first set, Raducanu spoke with the umpire, and her Czech opponent appeared to offer her comfort before play continued. Muchova, the runner-up at the 2023 French Open, will next face McCartney Kessler, who upset world No. 3 Coco Gauff in straight sets.

In other matches in Dubai, Gauff suffered her third consecutive defeat, losing to world No. 53 Kessler. The 20-year-old third seed had a strong start to the year, achieving a nine-match winning streak. However, since losing to Paula Badosa in the Australian Open quarter-finals, Gauff has suffered second-round losses in both the Qatar Open and the Dubai Tennis Championships, despite receiving first-round byes in both events. Kessler saved five of six break points against Gauff, ultimately winning the match 6-4, 7-5 in 1 hour and 29 minutes. This marked her first career win against a top-10 player and her first time reaching the third round of a WTA 1000 event.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated qualifier Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-4, while second seed Iga Swiatek swept aside two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka 6-0, 6-2. Jasmine Paolini continued her title defense with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over German player Eva Lys, while Ons Jabeur lost to American Peyton Stearns 7-6 (8-6), 6-4. Sixth seed Elena Rybakina defeated Naito Yuki 6-3, 6-2 and will face world No. 10 Badosa in the round of 16, after Badosa defeated Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-1.