Raducanu battles to victory at Auckland Classic

Emma Raducanu made a winning return to tennis after eight months out following injuries defeating Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 yesterday to set up an ASB Classic last-16 tie against second seed Elina Svitolina.   

Having stormed out to a strong start to take the first set 6-3, Raducanu was pegged back in the second as the hard-hitting Ruse pushed on to claim the set 6-4.   
Despite running out of challenges midway through the third set, failing to take her first three match points and seeing a 5-2 lead slip to 5-5, Raducanu crucially claimed three breaks within it, kicking on to eventually claim the match at the third time of asking on her own service game.   

Raducanu, who last played on the WTA Tour in Stuttgart in April, has been absent after surgeries on both wrists and her left ankle.   

Her absence has seen her drop to 298th in the world, while it was at the ASB Classic in Auckland last year that Raducanu departed in tears after suffering an ankle injury. (Agencies)