Raducanu Rallies to Overcome Stearns in Korean Open Opener
Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, kicked off her Korean Open campaign with a hard-fought 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2 victory over American qualifier Alycia Parks in the first round on Tuesday.
Despite facing a tough opponent in Parks, who was known for her powerful serve, Raducanu persevered through a rollercoaster match filled with both struggles and moments of brilliance.
A Tight First Set
The first set was a closely contested affair, with both players trading blows. Parks, known for her strong serve, was able to hold her serve throughout the set, while Raducanu faced two break points, but managed to save both. The set eventually went to a tie-break, where Parks, with a powerful serve that pushed Raducanu around the court, took the opening set 7-4.
Raducanu Finds Her Rhythm
Raducanu, despite losing the first set, showed resilience. She stepped up her game in the second set, breaking Parks in the second game, taking a 2-0 lead. Parks fought back, breaking Raducanu in the 5th game to even the score at 3-3. However, Raducanu managed to find her rhythm again, breaking Parks' serve in the 9th game and serving out the set 6-4 to level the match.
Dominating Third Set
The momentum shifted completely in the third set. Raducanu broke Parks' serve twice in the first two games and continued to dominate the match. She served powerfully and confidently, winning the set 6-2 to secure the victory and advance to the second round.
Moving Forward
The victory, while hard-earned, is a good start for Raducanu in Seoul. She will face either the Chinese Taipei player Su-Wei Hsieh or a qualifier in the second round.
Key Takeaways
- Despite a tough first set, Raducanu showed resilience and composure to turn the match around.
- Her powerful serve and strong groundstrokes proved to be too much for Parks in the end.
- The victory is a positive sign for Raducanu as she looks to build momentum heading into the rest of the season.
Raducanu will be looking to continue her strong start to the tournament and build on this victory in the coming rounds. Her fans will be hoping that she can use this momentum to make a deep run at the Korean Open.
