In a shocking turn of events, 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu crashed out in the first round of the inaugural Singapore Tennis Open on Monday, falling 7-5, 5-7, 5-7 to world No. 101 Cristina Bucșa in a marathon three-hour clash. The early exit was especially surprising given Raducanu’s status as one of the headline acts for the new WTA 250 event.
Aggressive Approach Falls Short
Raducanu came out firing on all cylinders, employing a high-risk, high-reward strategy in the early stages. Her raw power helped her overcome some precarious positions as she rallied from a 4-5 deficit to claim the opening set. However, as the match wore on, the fine margins began to tell.
Groundstrokes that were painting the lines early on started to sail long, with one costly error into the net handing Bucșa a pivotal break at 5-5 in the second set. The Romanian went on to level the match, sending it to a deciding set.
Bucșa Holds Nerve in Topsy-Turvy Decider
In the final set, holding serve proved to be a Herculean task, with a staggering seven breaks in the 12 games played. Ultimately, it was Bucșa who managed to steady herself when it mattered most, closing out the roller coaster encounter for the biggest win of her career.
Raducanu: “I Actually Played Better Than Melbourne”
Despite the disappointing result, Raducanu struck an optimistic tone in her post-match comments. Remarkably, the 22-year-old Brit felt her level was superior to what she produced at the Australian Open, where she reached the third round before bowing out to World No. 1 Iga Świątek.
“I think I’m in a pretty good place with everything and I think I actually played better than I did in Melbourne, so that is ironic.”
— Emma Raducanu
Raducanu pointed to the small margins that decided the contest, while also praising her opponent’s outstanding play throughout.
“I think it was really small margins in it. I honestly thought I played pretty well today… She [Bucșa] just played unbelievable and, credit to her, she kept it up the whole match.”
— Emma Raducanu
Proud of Handling Coaching Change
Raducanu’s Singapore preparations were complicated by her split with coach Nick Cavaday, who stepped away due to health issues. The Brit took pride in how she coped with that challenge.
“I have the positives [from] this week, coming here on my own with [fitness coach] Yutaka [Nakamura] and my mom, but I’m really proud of how I dealt and handled myself this week.”
— Emma Raducanu
Craving More Match Play
Rather than dwell on the loss, Raducanu views the three-hour battle as invaluable match experience that will serve her well moving forward. For the young star, court time is the priority at this stage of the season.
“For me to be playing this kind of match, all I need is time on court and a match-competitive situation, which I got today. I got it in abundance — over three hours of it — so, for me, it’s really valuable because every match I play, I feel like it’s a win.”
— Emma Raducanu
Feeling the Singapore Love
While her future schedule remains uncertain, Raducanu expressed her affinity for Singapore and her disappointment at not being able to spend more time in the city-state.
“I love Singapore though, as a place. It’s a shame I can’t stay here longer. It is what it is… Singapore will always have a special place and the fans here are unbelievable. I felt so much support, I felt so much love. I just feel bad I couldn’t pull through for them.”
— Emma Raducanu
The Road Ahead
As Raducanu regroups from this early setback, she remains focused on the bigger picture. The former US Open champ is determined to continue building her game and sees positives in her progress, even if the results haven’t followed just yet.
“When I look at it practically, realistically and unemotionally, I think ‘okay, my level is improving’. I just have to take that positive and, when I look at it practically, realistically and unemotionally, I think ‘okay, my level is improving’.”
— Emma Raducanu
While the shock Singapore exit certainly stings, count on Emma Raducanu to bounce back stronger as she continues her quest to recapture the dazzling form that saw her become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title at the 2021 US Open. This is just one early speed bump in what still promises to be a long and successful career for the immensely talented 22-year-old.
