Emma Raducanu beaten in first round of Miami Open by fellow former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu | Tennis News

Emma Raducanu suffered in the first round of the Miami Open after losing to Bianca Andreescu in the battle of the former US Open champion.

Britain’s Raducanu, who won the US Open in 2021, was beaten 6-3 3-6 6-2 by 2019 Flushing Meadows champion Andreescu, with the Canadian now advancing to play seventh seed Maria Sakkari in the second round.

Raducanu won three matches at Indian Wells last week before falling to world No.1 Iga Swiatek in the round of 16 in her first tournament since a second-round exit at the Australian Open in January.

Andreescu, whose run at Indian Wells last week was also ended by Swiatek, broke Raducanu in his first service game in the opening set, with the Englishman then forced to save a break point at 1-4 down and a set point at 2-5. .

Andreescu continued to clinch the set but was broken by Raducanu in game eight of the second set, as the opponent finally converted the seventh break point of the epic 21-minute game before leveling the match in the next service game.

Both players stopped a break point early in the decider – Adreescu was down 0-40 in the opening game – only for the Canadian to break to lead 4-2 before doing it again to claim victory in two hours and 33 minutes and take him. the winning record against Raducanu is 2-0.

The pair’s previous meeting came in Rome last year when Raducanu retired with a set down and lost 2-1.

Raducanu is expected to return to action on clay in Stuttgart next month, with the 20-year-old “unavailable” for England’s Billie Jean King Cup clash with France in Coventry on April 14-15.

World number 1 Swiatek withdrew due to a rib injury

Swiatek, the defending champion in Miami after defeating Naomi Osaka in last year’s final, withdrew due to a rib injury sustained from a severe cough while winning the Qatar Total Open last month.

The 21-year-old, who was due to play American Claire Liu in the 64 last Friday after receiving a first-round bye, is planning to rest and will also miss the Billie Jean King Cup in April.

Swiatek wrote on social media: “In and after Doha I struggled with a strong infection. I was allowed to play, but a strong coughing episode caused a rib injury.

“We tried to handle it and continue to play as long as it was safe for me. We analyzed the data in the last days and the doctor prepared the diagnosis.

“Unfortunately, I still feel discomfort and pain and I can’t compete. I need to rest to recover and I have to withdraw from the Miami Open and the Billie Jean King Cup. It was a very difficult call. to not play … but health is
most important.

“I will keep updating about where I play next, because it depends on the recovery process and the recommendations of the medical team. I have the best team behind me, it just takes some time to overcome the injury.

“I’m grateful this is the first health problem in a long time and I can compete in perfect shape for so long, but that sports, it happens sometimes, without our control. It’s time to accept and heal as soon as possible. possible.”