Emma Raducanu Triumphs in Korea Open Opener Against Peyton Stearns

Emma Raducanu showcased her resilience in a challenging match against American Peyton Stearns, proceeding to the second round of the Korea Open. The former US Open champion secured a hard-fought 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) victory in a contest that extended over two hours and 43 minutes in Seoul.

This triumph marks Raducanu’s first win since her encounter with Stearns at the Washington Open in July. Her only tournament in August was at the US Open, where she faced an early exit at the hands of Sofia Kenin. Raducanu expressed regret over her scheduling and emphasized her desire to compete more frequently, indicating her commitment to an active schedule for the remainder of the season.

During the match, Raducanu initially built a 4-1 lead in the opening set and even had a commanding 40-0 lead on her serve. However, the set turned into a rollercoaster as she lost four consecutive games, ultimately claiming the set in a tiebreak. The second set also saw Raducanu break to lead 5-3, only to falter on her serve again, allowing Stearns—ranked 48th, 22 places ahead of Raducanu—to briefly hold the advantage. Despite these challenges, Raducanu held her nerve during another tiebreak to clinch the match.

Following her win, Raducanu expressed satisfaction, saying, “I’m proud to have made it through to the next round. It was tough. It was very humid, the ball was bouncing around a lot. I haven’t played many matches in the last few months, and Peyton, she’s a really good player and in good form. I’m really pleased.”

With this victory, Raducanu is expected to see a jump in the WTA rankings, potentially moving ten places up to 60th. Her performance in Seoul could further enhance her ranking, with aspirations to re-enter the top 40 contingent on continued success in the tournament.

Raducanu’s next opponent will be Yuan Yue, the eighth seed from China, currently ranked 40th in the world. Yuan advanced to the second round after overcoming a set deficit to defeat qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse in her initial match of the tournament.