Emma Raducanu’s turbulent start to 2022 continues after she was forced to retire from her first round match at the Abierto AKRON Zapopan due to injury.
The reigning US Open champion was pushed to her limits by Australia’s Daria Saville during a match which lasted for more than three-and-a-half hours before the Brit was forced to call it quits. Raducanu was at one stage leading by a set and 3-0 before her Australian rival battled back to draw level. Heading into the third set, the top seed was seen having difficulty with moving due to an issue concerning her left hip. Eventually she retired from the match whilst trailing 5-7, 7-6(4), 4-3 after three hours and 36 minutes.
“This is probably the first match in a long time when I felt like I was being myself,” Saville told wtatennis.com after the win. “I was being feisty Dasha. I just want to keep on working and keep on going here.”
Raducanu, who was the top seed in Guadalajara, has only managed to win one match in three tournaments played so far this season. That was at the Australian Open where she defeated Sloane Stephens in the first round before losing to Danka Kovinic. She also lost in the first round of the Sydney International to Elena Rybakina.
Meanwhile, Saville is relishing a return to form following what has been a difficult past few months on the Tour due to a serious issue with her Achilles. This week is the first time she has played an individual tournament outside of her home country of Australia for 16 months. As a consequence she has spiraled down the world rankings to outside the world’s top 600. At her highest she has been ranked 20th in the world back in 2017.
Next up for Saville will be a showdown against American qualifier Caroline Dolehide who beat China’s Lin Zhu 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Also through to the second round is Poland’s Magdalena Frech who is currently ranked 97th in the world. Frech outlasted home favourite Renata Zarazúa 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4, to set up a meeting with third seed Sara Sorribes Tormo.
This year’s draw has been blown wide open following a series of high-profile casualties in the first round. Out of the eight seeded players, only three have managed to make it to the last 16. Besides Tormo, Stephens and Colombia’s Camila Osorio also won their opening matches.
