Emma Raducanu WINS on return to tennis after 259-day injury hell with Brit slipping to 301st in the world after surgery
EMMA RADUCANU celebrated her long-awaited return from injury with a gutsy three-set win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round of the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The former British No1, who was playing her first match since April following operations on both her wrists and one ankle, held off a fightback from the Romanian qualifier to progress 6-3 4-6 7-5.
Her preparations for the upcoming Australian Open will continue with a tough last-16 tie against second seed Elina Svitolina.
Tournament wild card Raducanu, who had dropped to 301st in the world rankings, resumed her stalled career claiming to feel "reborn" and freed from the weight of her headline-grabbing US Open triumph in 2021.
Having managed only nine matches in 2023, she initially showed few signs of rustiness as she wrapped up the opening set in 37 minutes after capitalising on her third break point in game eight.
Yet any hopes of straightforward progression were quickly dashed as Ruse responded.
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The world No134 doggedly saved three break points in an 11-minute opening game of the second set before winning two of Raducanu's next three service games to shift the momentum.
At 5-2 down, Raducanu showed her resilience to return the match to serve but then failed to hold as it went to a decider.
The 21-year-old showed flashes of her best throughout the contest, including a delightful backhand slice winner, and would not be denied, despite the best efforts of the determined Ruse.
She blew a 5-2 lead in the final set and failed to capitalise on two match points on her opponent's serve before digging in to ensure eight months on the sidelines culminated in an encouraging comeback victory.
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Speaking on court after the win, Raducanu said: "It's difficult after having such a long hiatus but I'm grateful to be healthy.
"I'm grateful to be able to move my body and not bedridden or in a wheelchair.
"It's pretty amazing to just be out here and playing and I'm just really happy to be back on the tour and can't wait to start this season and carry on hopefully injury-free and healthy."
Raducanu will now play Ukrainian No.2 seed Elina Svitolina, who reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon last summer.
The world No.301 is waiting to hear if she will earn a spot in the main draw of the Australian Open, which starts on January 14.
Unless three more people above in her entry list pull out due to injury or illness, she is going to have to negotiate three qualifying rounds next week.