Emma Raducanu had to grit her teeth as she secured a first-round win at the Mubadala City DC Open in Washington.
The Brit overcame number eight seed Elise Mertens, winning 6-2 3-6 6-4, and admitted that she was still suffering from jet lag in the light night encounter, which finished after 11pm.
Despite Raducanu taking the first set comfortably after winning five straight games, Mertens recovered well to clinch the second.
In a tense deciding set, the British star was broken as she served for the match with the score at 5-3, before regrouping in the following game to break her opponent and seal the match.
And the 2021 US Open champion put the victory down to pure mental resolve, revealing the tough words she used to motivate herself as the effects of jet lag set in.
Speaking after the match, Raducanu shared: “I was telling myself: ‘I’m not leaving. This is not happening. You’re not losing this match’.”
She then reflected on the result as a whole: “I think I’m just most proud of my mentality and character today.
“I was playing some pretty good tennis in patches throughout, especially in the first set and moments in the third set. I lost some focus in the second.
“It’s not easy playing at 11.30. I got here Thursday night so I’m still jet-lagged.”
The marathon match was Raducanu’s first since Wimbledon, where she reached the fourth round and recorded a win over Mertens in the second round- the pair’s only previous encounter.
And the former world number 10 will be pleased with how her body held up in difficult circumstances, as she continues her comeback from an injury-ravaged 2023.
Raducanu underwent double wrist and ankle surgery last year, and turned down the chance to represent Team GB at the Paris Olympics in order to avoid risking further injury problems due to the surface on Roland-Garros courts.
She will surely be disappointed to miss out on the summer spectacle, with the Games being compatriot Sir Andy Murray’s final tournament before he calls time on an illustrious career.
The 21-year-old will now face the winner of an all-American clash between Clervie Ngounoue and Peyton Stearns in the tournament’s second round.
News Summary:
- Emma Raducanu had tough message for herself after fighting off jet lag to win in Washington
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