Bencic and Badosa Advance, Raducanu Exits in Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships witnessed a mix of triumph and disappointment as World No. 13 Belinda Bencic and Spain’s Paula Badosa advanced to the next round, while British star Emma Raducanu faced an early exit. The tournament, held at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, showcased intense matches and notable performances on Monday.
Bencic Overcomes Early Setback
Belinda Bencic, the ninth seed, began her campaign with a challenging match against Spanish debutante Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. After dropping the first set 2-6, Bencic adjusted her strategy, focusing on a more straightforward game plan. This shift proved effective as she secured the next two sets 6-1, 6-2, ultimately winning the match.
Bencic, who previously claimed the title in 2019, expressed relief at her ability to regain composure during the match. She noted, “I am just glad I was able to calm my head down a little bit and try to play a very simple game to improve throughout the match. I think I just settled into the match.” Looking ahead, Bencic is set to face 20-year-old Sara Bejlek, a player she has never encountered before. She emphasized the need for preparation, stating, “I will try to figure out all of the information I have, but during the match I’ll just have to adjust and figure it out as we go.”
Badosa Dominates Siniakova
In another highlight, Paula Badosa, a Dubai resident, showcased her skills by defeating Katerina Siniakova with a score of 6-3, 7-5. This victory sets up a highly anticipated second-round match against seventh seed Elina Svitolina, a two-time champion of the tournament. Badosa acknowledged the challenge posed by Siniakova, describing her as a “very tricky opponent” and reflected on her performance: “I’m really pleased with my performance today. I tried to stay in there as she increased her level; it was very intense.”
Raducanu’s Return Cut Short
Emma Raducanu’s much-anticipated return to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium ended in disappointment as she lost to Antonia Ruzic, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6. Ruzic, who stepped in for the injured Elisabetta Cocciaretto, seized the opportunity effectively. The first set was dominated by Ruzic, who closed it out in under half an hour. However, Raducanu, ranked 25th in the WTA standings, showed resilience in the second set, managing to break Ruzic’s serve twice to level the match.
Despite a promising start to the third set, where Raducanu took a 2-0 lead, Ruzic rallied back, winning six consecutive games to secure her place in the next round against Anastasia Zakharova.
Tauson and Kalinskaya Advance
Clara Tauson, last year’s runner-up, began her campaign positively by defeating 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in straight sets. The match featured a variety of powerful groundstrokes, but Tauson ultimately triumphed 7-6 (4), 6-2.
Anna Kalinskaya also progressed to the second round after overcoming Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open winner. Kalinskaya lost the first set 2-6 but fought back to win the next two sets 6-1, 6-4.
Emerging Talents Shine
In other matches, Iva Jovic, the 16th seed, defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 1-6, 6-1, showcasing her potential as a rising star in the sport. Jovic will face Diana Shnaider in the next round. Meanwhile, Leylah Fernandez, a crowd favorite, was eliminated by Indonesian wildcard Janice Tjen in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Tjen reflected on the match, noting the importance of execution in critical moments.
Cluj-Napoca champion Sorana Cirstea extended her winning streak to six matches with a straight-sets victory over Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Additionally, No. 14 seed Emma Navarro advanced with a 6-4, 7-5 win against Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
The tournament continues to unfold with exciting matches and emerging talents, setting the stage for thrilling encounters in the coming rounds.
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Published on 2026-02-16 17:55:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk