Emma Rudicano came up short in a three-hour marathon to crash out in the first round of the Singapore Open. The British No. 2 lost to Spain’s Cristina Boxa 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 after serving 17 breaks.
The world No. 56, Radukano was playing in her first match since splitting with coach Nick Kavade, who pulled out last week due to health issues. Instead, the 22-year-old had her mother Renee as well as fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura as well as new family Renee for company in the stands. But Ridukano still took the flag as the finish line neared at the end of a brutal collision.
The 2021 US Open champion, who reached the third round at the Australian Open last week, saved two break points in the first game with a pair. Boksa, the world No. 101, served for the first set but was sent back by a blistering Radukano forehand winner.
Seventh-seeded Radukano sealed a confident hold at love with an ace and then took his first set point with another clubhouse forehand. She recovered from an early break for 5-5 in the second set but Boksa showed some of the things that helped her win Olympic bronze in women’s doubles last year, leveling the match. Attacked again.
A scrappy deciding set included seven breaks as double faults crept in at the end of Ridukano’s end. Busa served for the match at 6-5 and although Raducano saved two match points, the Moldovan-born 27-year-old converted his third to seal the win in three hours and two minutes.
