Raducanu Triumphs Over Stearns in Korea Open Clash.

Tennis General

Raducanu Triumphs Over Stearns in Korea Open Clash.

Emma Raducanu secured a hard-fought victory over Peyton Stearns in a challenging first-round match at the Korea Open in Seoul.

Emma Raducanu, ranked 70th, won her first match since exiting the US Open in the first round, defeating 48th-ranked Peyton Stearns 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) in a grueling two-hour and 43-minute battle at the Korea Open in Seoul.

"I'm proud to advance to the next round," Raducanu said. "It was a tough match in very humid conditions. I haven't played many matches recently, and Peyton is in great form, so I'm really pleased with the win."

Raducanu started strong, breaking Stearns' serve in the opening game, though she lost her own serve shortly after. 

Despite a fluctuating first set with eight breaks of serve, Raducanu clinched it in a tie-break after 74 minutes. 

In the second set, she saved break points and managed to break Stearns to lead 5-3.