Injury concerns for Emma Raducanu as she loses entertaining Elina Svitolina clash in Auckland

Elina Svitolina battled back from a set down to defeat Emma Raducanu 6-7(5), 7-6(3), 6-1 on the Brit’s return from injury in the second round of the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The 21-year-old overcame Elena Gabriela Ruse in three sets in the first round in her first match in eight months following operations on both her wrists and her ankle.
Raducanu took a first-set lead over second seed Svitolina, before her decorated opponent fought back to take victory and advance into the third round. The world No 25 will face 36th-ranked and fifth seed Marie Bouzkova in the quarter-finals of the WTA 250 tournament.
Despite a very encouraging display from Raducanu, there are some injury concerns, as she played the match with strapping on her right thigh – which was not present in her win over Ruse. She also seemed to have an issue with her back in the third set, where her level dropped considerably.
Raducanu looked like she would cruise to a one-set lead when she went 5-1 up, but a determined Svitolina broke back twice as she fought back to force a tie-break.
The former British No 1 eventually sealed the set in a tight tiebreak as she converted her second set point with the Ukrainian serving at 5-6.
Svitolina twice went up a break early in the second set, but Raducanu struck back each time and was dominant on serve thereafter as the match entered a tie-break for a second time.
Not to be for Emma Raducanu as No.2 seed Elina Svitolina takes a three-set battle 6-7, 7-6, 6-1 in Auckland
But plenty of positives for Emma to take on her return this week 👏#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/wAYTeWLgJo
— LTA (@the_LTA) January 4, 2024
The 2021 US Open winner broke Svitolina twice early in the tie-break to gain the upper hand, but the 29-year-old refused to be beaten as she fought back with six straight points to eventually take the contest into a deciding set.
The decider proved a set too far for Raducanu as she lost serve early and Svitolina took control by winning the next three games en route to surging into a 5-0 lead.
Raducanu avoided the bagel by holding in the sixth game, but Svitolina soon wrapped up a convincing win on her third match point.
After the match, Svitolina said in her on-court interview: “It was a great match from both of us. Emma played a great match and it was really difficult, physically.
“I hope I will recover for tomorrow, be ready and you guys can give me some support.
“Two great matches and now against Emma, they played really well. I am happy with the way I handled pressure moments and just a really great way to start the year.”
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