WTA Roundup: Emma Raducanu Wins Return in Auckland

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain plays a shot in her match against Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania during the 2024 Women's ASB Classic at ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland, New Zealand, on Jan. 2, 2024. Dave Rowland/Getty Images

Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu won her first match after an eight-day layoff, edging Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6–3, 4–6, 7–5 on Tuesday at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.

The 2021 U.S. Open champion needed two hours and 27 minutes to win her first competition since Stuttgart in May, following multiple wrist and ankle surgeries.

Raducanu will face No. 2 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the second round. Svitolina defeated Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki 6–4, 6–3.

Also advancing were top-seeded Coco Gauff, No. 8 Varvara Gracheva of France, Brenda Fruhvirtova of the Czech Republic, and China’s Yue Yuan.

Gauff defeated fellow American Claire Liu 6–4, 6–2.

Brisbane International

Australia’s Arina Rodionova knocked out No. 14 seed Sofia Kenin 7–5, 7–6 (7) in the opening round in Australia.

Kenin faced a whopping 21 break points, saving 17 of them.

No. 8 Victoria Azarenka of Russia defeated compatriot Anna Kalinskaya 6–1, 7–6 (8) in the day’s only other match involving a seeded player.

Other first-round winners included Danielle Collins, Julia Riera of Argentina, Clara Burel of France, Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic, and Australia’s Olivia Gadecki.