Tearful Emma Raducanu forced to retire with injury from Auckland clash with Viktoria Kuzmova
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Updated 05/01/2023 at 11:08 GMT
Emma Raducanu left the court in tears after she was forced to retire from her match with Viktoria Kuzmova at the ASB Classic in Aukland. The Brit had dominated the first set before being pegged back in the second. However, after a lengthy medical time out to tend to her left ankle, it was determined she was unable to continue. It will now give some concern over her Australian Open status.
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Emma Raducanu was forced to retire from her ASB Classic round of 16 match with Viktoria Kuzmova as her problems with injuries continue.
Raducanu, whose 2022 campaign was blighted by fitness issues was hoping for better fortune this year starting at the Auckland event.
However, after an entertaining first two sets – played indoors in front of no spectators due to heavy rain – the Brit succumbed to an injury to her left ankle and withdraw with the score at 6-0 5-7.
It was an electric start from Raducanu who refused to allow her opponent any inroads.
After taking the first game, the 2021 US Open champion secured an early break, leaving her Slovakian opponent with a mountain to climb early on.
A second break soon followed for a commanding 4-0 lead before the 20-year-old held to love forcing Kuzmova to serve to stay in the set.
However, Raducanu showed no let up and took the opener 6-0 on her second set point.
Raducanu’s dominance was visible in the statistics having won 75% of her service points and 68% on her return.
The second set was a far closer affair with Kuzmova starting to find her range, finally holding serve in the second game to get on the board.
The 24-year-old then saved two break points to keep the set on serve at 2-2, before securing a break of her own in the very next game to lead for the first time.
Raducanu looked unable to convert the break points as she had in the first set, but found another gear in the tenth game, breaking to love to restore parity at 5-5.
However, sloppy play allowed Kuzmova to immediately break back and a chance to serve for the set which she did in dominant fashion – holding to love.
That was to be the last of the action however as a lengthy medical time out on Raducanu’s left ankle meant she was unable to continue and retired from the match.
A visibly upset Raducanu left the court in tears with no indication what this might mean for her participation at the Australian Open, beginning on January 16.
Kuzmova now faces Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic in the quarter finals.
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