Emma Raducanu celebrates after beating Maria Sakkari in straight sets at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Reuters
Emma Raducanu celebrates after beating Maria Sakkari in straight sets at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Reuters
Emma Raducanu celebrates after beating Maria Sakkari in straight sets at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Reuters
Emma Raducanu celebrates after beating Maria Sakkari in straight sets at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Reuters

Emma Raducanu ‘really proud’ after returning to winning ways in Dubai


Reem Abulleil
  • English
  • Arabic

Emma Raducanu spent over 15 minutes signing autographs for scores of adoring fans following her 6-4, 6-2 victory over Maria Sakkari in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

When she finally made her way to players’ cool down area to reunite with her team, she rushed to give her mentor Jane O’Donoghue a massive hug that signified just how much that win on Sunday meant to her.

Raducanu arrived in Dubai carrying a four-match losing streak, which included opening round exits in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Doha in the last three weeks.

The 2021 US Open champion had accepted wildcards to compete in the main draws in all three Middle East tournaments this month, and was searching for a first victory since her second-round success over Amanda Anisimova at the Australian Open four and a half weeks ago.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily sunk in yet. I’ve had a long time on the road and taken a few losses, it’s never easy coming back out,” Raducanu told The National following her third success in as many meetings with Sakkari.

“But I’m just really proud I’ve stuck it out and come through that match against a really tough opponent. I had to play really good to beat her.

The match was closer than the scoreline indicates, and Raducanu was forced to dig deep and defend through some intense rallies before she managed to overcome the Greek former world No 3.

“That’s one thing that I’m improving, my athleticism. The work is paying off on that side of it. I’m looking forward for the tennis side also coming together and then I feel like I’m building a good big picture,” said the British world No 61.

Raducanu is still without a permanent coach in her corner, but is relying on a familiar face in O’Donoghue during this Doha-Dubai swing.

She also has her fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, who has been a key factor in the gains she has made on the physical side these past couple of months.

Staying positive through this sub-par stretch of results – the longest losing streak of her career – has not been easy and Raducanu is proud of how she has been handling it.

“I’m very appreciative, very grateful for all the wildcards I’ve received the last few weeks. I just really wanted to fight, do my best,” said the 22-year-old.

“I think something really important has been having amazing people around me. Jane, who I’ve known forever, she’s like a big sister to me. And Yutaka as well, their belief is unwavering, even though yours might quiver a little bit from time to time.

“But I haven’t lost to bad players. Ekaterina [Alexandrova] went on and made semis [in Doha] and Marketa [Vondrousova, whom she lost to in Abu Dhabi] is a class opponent as well.

“So I have to put things in perspective and just try take care of my day and stay consistent and not let it run away from me.”

Raducanu is making her Dubai debut this week and has been amazed by the support she has received since her arrival.

“It's unbelievable for the fans to stay out here so late and it really made a difference; I felt so much support.

"Walking off there, just going through that tunnel, that support was just out of control, in a good way and it’s something that I’ve missed for so long. That feeling is unparalleled, you can’t replicate it,” she said.

Raducanu has another big test ahead of her as she takes on world No 17 and last year’s US Open semi-finalist Karolina Muchova on Tuesday.

“She’s obviously an amazing opponent and I think, for me, these matches against the top players I’m playing, top 20 players week after week it’s unbelievable exposure,” said Raducanu.

“I’ve actually not necessarily played badly the last few weeks, it’s just in big moments they’ve played better than I have and I think right now I’m just enjoying this win.

“Against Karolina, I feel like she’s a lot more experienced than me, had a lot more years on tour, obviously a world-class opponent. I’m just going to go and have a swing really.”

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A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur  Sheikh Zayed

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Updated: February 18, 2025, 2:48 AM`