Emma Raducanu loses to Ons Jabeur as Tunisian breezes past Brit with straight-sets win to reach Abu Dhabi Open quarters
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Published 07/02/2024 at 18:59 GMT
Emma Raducanu was defeated 6-4 6-1 by Ons Jabeur in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Open on Wednesday. The Brit showed promising signs during the one-hour and 18-minute encounter but was ultimately beaten by the stronger player. Despite the convincing win, Jabeur was impressed by the 21-year-old. “She didn’t make it easy for me,” she said. “She’s an amazing player. I’m a big fan of hers.”
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Emma Raducanu was beaten 6-4 6-1 by second seed Ons Jabeur in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Open on Wednesday.
The Brit looked in good shape to beat Marie Bouzkova by the same scoreline in her opening match, but was dominated by the Tunisian in the last-16 encounter which lasted one hour and 18 minutes.
After the match, Jabeur complemented her British counterpart and feels Raducanu will rediscover her best form.
“Emma had an amazing experience in the US Open and everybody I think followed her and she has had an amazing career,” Jabeur said about Raducanu, who has struggled to hit the same heights since her Grand Slam win in 2021.
“Everybody has had a different story but we struggle a lot, we go through a lot of things, but we try to make it here.
“She didn’t make it easy for me,” the Tunisian added. “She’s an amazing player and I wish her all the best.
“I’m a big fan of hers and I look forward to seeing her win a lot of matches, just not against me!”
Victory for Jabeur moved the second seed into her first quarter-final of the year, where she will face No. 6 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Despite trailing the opening game 40-15, Jabeur capitalised on a string of errors from Raducanu to break the 21-year-old in the first game of the match.
Jabeur held the two-game cushion lead until she broke Raducanu again in the fifth set, again fighting back from 40-15 to seal a three-game lead with a third break point.
Raducanu showed promising signs against the world No. 6 and managed a break of her own to close the deficit, firing a forearm from the baseline for 5-3.
Jabeur closed out the set for the lead and then sealed another early break in the second set to take full control of the match.
At 3-1, a fourth Jabeur break of serve proved to be the decisive one as she stretched her lead to 4-1, which Raducanu couldn’t fight back from as the three-time Grand Slam finalist booked her spot in the next round.
Jabeur’s quarter-final opponent Haddad Maia endured an epic 3-hour and 42-minute clash against Magda Linette to reach the last eight.
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