Emma Raducanu of Britain ended her losing streak with a straight-set win over Greece’s Maria Sakkari in the opening round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The 22-year-old entered the tournament having lost her last four matches, the worst run of her career, but claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory in just 1 hour and 20 minutes against the world No. 29.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, had not won a match since defeating American Amanda Anisimova in the second round of the Australian Open on January 16.
The British No. 2 broke her opponent’s serve in the opening game of both sets, and each time she lost her own serve, she broke back immediately.
Raducanu will face Karolina Muchova in the second round after the Czech 14th seed defeated Dutch player Suzan Lamens 6-2, 6-2.
