🎾 British number one Emma Raducanu went out in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships, losing in three sets to Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic, a “lucky loser” 245. Raducanu bounced back after dropping the opening set to level the match, but she could not carry that momentum into the decider as Ruzic closed out the win 25.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Sources
- Raducanu beaten by lucky loser in Dubai first round - BBC [google.com] (2026-02-16)
- Raducanu beaten by lucky loser in Dubai first round [bbc.com] (2026-02-16)
- Emma Raducanu: British No 1 takes medical time out in defeat to lucky loser Antonia Ruzic at Dubai Tennis Championships - Sky Sports [google.com] (2026-02-17)
- Raducanu suffers three-set defeat to lucky loser Ruzic in Dubai [skysports.com] (2026-02-16)
- Emma Raducanu beaten in first round of Dubai tournament by ‘lucky loser’ [theguardian.com] (2026-02-16)
Highlights
- Scoreline swing: Raducanu fell 6-1 in the first set, dug in to take the second 7-5, then lost 6-2 as the match swung back Ruzic’s way 5.
- Deciding-set run: Raducanu moved 2-0 up in the third set, but Ruzic reeled off the final six games to finish the match in a rush 5.
- Medical timeout and illness: Raducanu took a medical timeout, with Sky Sports reporting that sickness and illness continued to take their toll 24.
Performance Statistics
- Ruzic ranking: Ruzic was listed as world No 67 in The Guardian’s report 5.