Emma Raducanu beaten by lucky loser Antonia Ruzic in Dubai first round
Emma Raducanu's run at the Dubai Tennis Championships ended in an upset as she was defeated 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 by Croatia's Antonia Ruzic in the first round. Ruzic, a lucky loser ranked 67th, seized the opportunity after late withdrawals reshaped the draw, delivering a dramatic reversal after Raducanu had wrestled the match back to level terms.
Match summary: momentum swings and a late run
Ruzic took control early, wrapping up the first set in around 30 minutes with two breaks of serve. Raducanu, the world No. 25, required medical attention during the contest — a worrying echo of her recent withdrawal from a tournament the previous week. Trailing 5-3 in the second set after another break, Raducanu mounted a fierce comeback, winning four straight to take the set 7-5 and then claiming the first two games of the decider to go 2-0 up.
That brief surge was not enough. Ruzic turned the match around with a run of six consecutive games to close out the final set 6-2 and secure a 2 hour 20 minute victory. The result marked a stunning turnaround in a match of dramatic momentum shifts.
What this means for Raducanu and the field
The defeat raises fresh questions about Raducanu's consistency and fitness. Earlier this month she reached a tournament final for the first time since her 2021 US Open victory, suggesting signs of form, but back-to-back early exits and medical stoppages will be a concern for her team and fans. The loss also removes a high-profile name from the Dubai draw early, opening the bottom half of the bracket for lower-ranked players to make deeper runs.
For those tracking tennis scores today, the upset reshuffles expectations for the tournament and highlights how quickly momentum can shift at the top level. Raducanu's pattern of stoppages and late-match swings in the space of a few events will be watched closely as she prepares for upcoming tournaments and the return to more consistent match play.
Ruzic seizes her chance
Ruzic, who had fallen in the final qualifying round, was among several players who filled the main draw following withdrawals. The Croatian took full advantage of her reprieve, combining aggressive baseline play and timely breaks to turn the tide. Her performance will boost confidence and ranking points as she advances, proving the value of maintaining focus and seizing unexpected opportunities in big events.
With the Dubai Championships continuing, the result is a reminder of the fine margins in elite tennis: a player can move from near-elimination to match-winner within a single swing of momentum, and draws can be reshaped overnight by injury and withdrawal. Fans monitoring tennis scores today will now be watching how both Raducanu and Ruzic respond in the tournaments ahead.
