Raducanu battles to win over Stearns at Korea Open

Emma Raducanu earned a hard-fought win in a “tough” match against Peyton Stearns in the first round of the Korea Open in Seoul.

The Briton, who is number 70 in the world, was playing her first match since her first-round US Open exit and emerged a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) victor against her 48th-ranked American opponent after two hours and 43 minutes.

“I’m proud to have made it through to the next round. It was tough and very humid,” said Raducanu.

“It was a tough match to get through. I haven’t played many matches in the last few months.

“Peyton is a really good player in good form so I’m really pleased.”

Raducanu started strongly by breaking Stearns in the opening game and, despite losing the next game on her serve, again broke her opponent to lead 2-1.

It was a sign of things to come as there were eight breaks of serve in a fluctuating first set, which Raducanu eventually won on a tie-break after 74 minutes.

Both players saved break points in the second set before Raducanu took one to lead 5-3.

However, in keeping with the match, she was broken when serving for the match, while Stearns also failed to hold her serve when 6-5 up.

The match went to another tie-break which Raducanu won to secure victory, after a second set lasting 89 minutes.

Raducanu will play China’s Yue Yuan, who is 40 in the world rankings, in the next round.