2025 WTA Dubai: Emma Raducanu ‘very happy’ after ending 4-match losing streak
Emma Raducanu says she is ‘very happy’ to snap a four-match losing streak, as she was victorious against Greek Maria Sakkari, 6-4, 6-2.
Former Grand Slam champion Raducanu got off to a quick start in both sets, breaking the world No 29 in her opening service games in both sets.
In typical fashion, Sakkari broke back mid-way in each set – however, unlike previous matches, the Brit kept her cool and sealed a straight-sets win.
Raducanu was highly effective in piling pressure onto the Greek’s second serve, winning twelve of her fifteen second serve return points.
The Brit had a strong start to the 2025 season, beating Ekaterina Alexandrova and Amanda Anisimova at the Australian Open, before being dominated by Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
From there, Raducanu lost three more matches without a single win. First against Cristina Bucsa in Singapore, then against Marketa Vondrousova in Abu Dhabi, before Ekaterina Alexandrova got her revenge at the Qatar Open.
“I just tried to stay really focused on the point in front of me,” the Brit said after the victory “There were some momentum shifts throughout the match and when I got broken twice early in the sets I just regrouped really well and I managed to break back both times.
“I was really pleased with how I fought and competed against Maria, she’s a top player, been as high as three in the world. I’m just really proud of my performance.”
Raducanu’s win extends her dominance over Sakkari, leading their head-to-head 3-0 and having not lost a set in any of their matches – finishing the Duabi meeting with a third ace.
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The former US Open champion had previously beaten the Greek at Wimbledon, as well as at the Flushing Meadows Grand Slam, something that she was asked about after the win: “I think in a way we play quite similar, she’s really athletic.
“I’m not necessarily going to give all my tactics away, it’s just a very difficult match every time we play so I’m happy to have won on all these occasions in all big tournaments and very happy to get through to the next round.”
Raducanu may have snapped her four-match losing streak, but the former world No 10 is unusually without a full-time coach, something unthinkable for many players, and stated that: “I want to make sure it’s a right fit.”
“And I think this period where I don’t necessarily have someone is going to tell me a lot. It’s going to teach me a lot, what I want, what I don’t want to look for in the next person.
“So, I think I’m using this time period to just figure out what I really value. I’m not too sure yet right now. I haven’t come to any plans or decisions. So yeah, I’m just taking it, using the next couple weeks to see how I feel, and then make a decision.”
The Brit will face former Grand Slam finalist and world No 17 Karolina Muchova in the second round, after the Czech won 6-2, 6-2 over Suzan Lamens, in what will be their first meeting on the professional tour.
