Emma Raducanu was thrilled after surviving a tricky Auckland weather and winning her first match of the season. On Tuesday, Raducanu recovered from a set and a break down to beat rising Czech teen Linda Fruhvirtova 4-6 6-4 6-2 in the ASB Classic first round.
The match lasted two hours and 28 minutes and was stretched over four hours due to two rain delays. “I think it’s like four hours later, honestly I don’t remember what time it is anymore,” Raducanu said, laughing.
Raducanu, who recently turned 20, admitted it was a bit strange to play against 17-year-old Fruhvirtova, who is three years younger. “I mean what a fight. Linda is such a great young player and it was a different dynamic for me because I was usually the younger one and going into this match she is and yes she will be like up there for sure and she is already so massive You,” Raducanu added.
How Raducanu defeated Fruhvirtova
Raducanu saved three break points in the eighth game but also missed out on four break points in the ninth game as Fruhvirtova led 5-4 after the first nine games of the match. In the 10th game – when Raducanu was serving to stay in the first set – Fruhvirtova claimed the first break of the match.
After winning the first set, Fruhvirtova also started the second set with a break and a 2-0 lead. Down by a set and a break, Raducanu responded with back-to-back breaks to win four games in a row and take a 4-2 lead in the second set.
Raducanu then held on to her serve the rest of the second set to force a decider. Then, Raducanu earned three consecutive breaks at the start of the third set for a 5-0 lead. Raducanu failed to serve out for the match in the sixth game and she also missed out on three match points in the seventh game.
But in the eighth game, there were no problems for Raducanu as the Briton managed to serve out for the match. In her next match, Raducanu plays Veronika Kuzmova.
