Emma Raducanu loses last six games as she is beaten in Dubai opener by Antonia Ruzic after medical timeout and blood pressure check

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British No. 1 Emma Raducanu saw her Dubai Tennis Championships campaign ended in the first round as she was beaten by lucky loser Antonia Ruzic. Raducanu, who made the Transylvania Open final earlier this month, needed medical attention after losing the first set in half an hour. She battled back to force a decider but could not close out the victory.

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Emma Raducanu lost her third match in a row as she was beaten by lucky loser Antonia Ruzic in the opening round of the WTA 1000 Dubai Tennis Championships.

British No. 1 Raducanu started February by being beaten in the Transylvania Open final - her first final since winning the 2021 US Open - and then retiring from her following match just two days later in Qatar.

She had her blood pressure checked in both matches and did so again after losing the first set against Ruzic in half an hour.

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Raducanu fought back to force a decider and looked to have the momentum as she broke early in the third set.

However, from 2-0 up, Raducanu lost six games in a row as she was beaten 6-1 5-7 6-2 by the world No. 67.

The defeat brings an abrupt end to Raducanu’s Middle East swing, with physical issues again appearing to hinder her ambitions.

She was originally scheduled to play Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the first round before the Italian pulled out due to injury.

Raducanu looked out of sorts in the first set and received treatment from the physio and doctor. But she showed spirit after the medical timeout to rally in the second set and level the contest.

From 5-3 down, the British No. 1 won four games in a row to force a decider.

Raducanu carried her momentum into the third set, breaking for 2-0 after a double fault was followed by an error from Ruzic.

But then the match slipped away from Raducanu as Ruzic won six games in a row to triumph in two hours and 19 minutes.

Speaking about her win, Ruzic said: "The whole turnaround was crazy, I got in as a lucky loser which was a strange feeling but also a good one and I wanted to make it count.

"Playing against Emma was always going to be a tough match so I was really happy with the tennis I played and the performance I put in.

"I lost my qualifier after being up 5-2 in the final set, so when it was that score today, I was getting flashbacks, but I stayed calm and this is something I'm proud of."

Raducanu’s next tournament could be Indian Wells in early March.

The Brit remains without a full-time coach, having parted ways with Francisco Roig after the Australian Open.

Roig, who spent 18 years working with Rafael Nadal, joined Raducanu's team before the US Open last August.

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