Emma Raducanu: Brit says she has 'nothing to lose' against 'home favourite' Ons Jabeur in Abu Dhabi

On Wednesday, Emma Raducanu will continue her comeback with a stern test against Ons Jabeur in the last 16 of the Abu Dhabi Open. The Briton has only kind words for the Tunisian who is currently No. 6 in the world, but stressed that she has "nothing to lose". Raducanu, who returned in January following wrist and ankle surgeries, beat world No. 36 Marie Bouzkova in straight sets on Monday.

Emma Raducanu insists she has “nothing to lose” against three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur when the pair clash for a place in the quarter-finals of the Abu Dhabi Open on Wednesday.

Raducanu sealed her place in the last 16 against the second seed with a fine display to beat world No. 36 Marie Bouzkova 6-4 6-1 in 82 minutes.

The former US Open champion has lost all four of her matches against top 10 players in her career. But rather than feeling apprehensive ahead of facing the world No. 6, Raducanu is filled with excitement.

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"She's definitely the home favourite here, rightfully so," Raducanu said.

"I really like Ons, she's someone who's kind of taken me under her wing as I've been new to the tour.

"I'm really looking forward to it because a lot of people were saying to me [during her first-round match], 'Oh, Ons, Ons, Ons!' And I was like, 'I'm playing Marie who's ranked like 30 in the world, so that's not an easy match!'

"But I'm really pleased to have put myself in this situation, and I'm going out with nothing to lose against her."

Raducanu, the world No. 296, has progressed to the second round for a third tournament in a row, having returned in January following wrist and ankle surgeries.

Meanwhile, Jabeur - who had a bye into the second round in Abu Dhabi - has won just once in 2024 and crashed out of the Australian Open second round after a comprehensive defeat to teenager Mirra Andreeva.

The Tunisian reached the final of the US Open in 2022, but admits her ambition is to win Wimbledon, having lost two finals at SW19.

“It’s not a secret that everybody knows that I want to win Wimbledon,” she told ArabNews.

“But I think the preparation starts from now, everything from now.

“I think I’m learning a lot of things in my game, my mental game as well, to be prepared for these huge tournaments. But I think I’ll take it one step at a time, one month at a time, and see how it goes and hopefully be arriving healthy to Wimbledon.”

The reward for Wednesday's winner is a last-eight match against Beatriz Haddad Maia or Magda Linette.

Jabeur suffers big shock as Andreeva records stunning win - Australian Open highlights

Video credit: TNT Sports

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