Emma Raducanu stunned by lucky loser Antonia Ruzic in Dubai first round
For tennis scores today, the headline from the Dubai Tennis Championships is an upset: British number one Emma Raducanu was eliminated in the opening round, losing 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 to Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic. The result — a comeback by a qualifier-turned-main-draw entrant — punctuated a match of momentum swings and late drama.
How the match played out
Raducanu’s initial opponent withdrew late with a thigh problem, which opened the door for Ruzic to enter the main draw as a lucky loser. The Croatian seized the opportunity immediately, racing through the first set in 30 minutes and breaking Raducanu twice to take a 6-1 lead.
The British number one sought medical attention during the contest, an echo of a physical issue that forced her to withdraw from a tournament the previous week. Despite that interruption and an early deficit in the second set — Raducanu trailed 5-3 after being broken — she mounted a determined fightback. Raducanu produced a string of strong games, claiming four consecutive games to win the second set 7-5 and square the match at one set apiece.
Raducanu carried that momentum into the start of the decider, winning six straight games across the end of set two and the opening of set three to lead 2-0 in the third. But Ruzic answered emphatically; the world number 67 ran off six successive games to close out the match 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 in a contest that lasted about 2 hours 20 minutes.
Consequences for both players
The defeat raises fresh questions about Raducanu’s consistency and fitness as she aims to rebuild after earlier career highs. She has shown flashes of top-level form in recent weeks, including a run to a late-season final last month, but recurring physical interruptions and early exits complicate the picture for the 2021 US Open champion.
For Ruzic, the victory is a career-boosting result. Entering the main draw as one of several players promoted after late withdrawals, she demonstrated mental resilience and an ability to seize a rare opportunity. A run like this will lift confidence and could provide valuable ranking points and momentum as the season progresses.
Tournament-wise, the upset shakes up the early draw and underscores the depth present in the women’s game: qualifiers and lucky losers are capable of producing headline-grabbing performances against high seeds. Fans following tennis scores today will find this among the more notable surprises in the opening rounds.
The immediate takeaway is clear: Raducanu will need to address form and fitness questions quickly if she is to avoid a repeat of early exits, while Ruzic’s breakthrough offers a reminder that late-call entries can sometimes create the biggest shocks on the biggest stages.
