Emma Raducanu suffered a disappointing defeat in her first match since parting ways with coach Nick Cavaday. The 2021 US Open champion lost 7-5 5-7 5-7 to world No. 101 Cristina Bucsa in the opening round of the WTA 250 Singapore Open. The grueling contest lasted over three hours, with the British tennis star struggling to maintain her leads throughout the match.
Raducanu initially recovered from a 4-5 deficit in the first set to take the lead, but Bucsa fought back to claim the second set in another tight battle. In the deciding set, the 22-year-old led 2-0 and 3-1 but could not consolidate her advantage, as she was immediately broken back each time. At 5-4 in the final set, the 2021 US Open champion had a chance to close the match, but Bucsa reeled off three consecutive games to secure victory.
Serving Woes Cost Emma Raducanu
Raducanu’s performance was plagued by serving issues, and the statistics highlight her struggles. Despite hitting seven aces and landing 73% of her first serves, her second serve proved to be a significant weakness. The Brit won only 24% of her second-serve points, claiming just 8 of 33. The situation worsened in the third set, where she was broken four times, hit five double faults, and managed to win only one of 13 second-serve points, a brutal 8% success rate.
While Raducanu managed to break Bucsa serve eight times, she also lost her own serve on nine occasions. This inconsistency ultimately cost her the match and denied her the chance to face qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the second round.
Coaching Change and 2025 Developments
Last week, it was announced that Nick Cavaday had stepped down from his role as Emma Raducanu’s coach. The two had first worked together during the British junior days before reuniting last season, helping the Brit climb back into the WTA Top 100 after missing much of 2023 due to surgeries. Despite the British tennis star’s hopes for a long-term partnership, Cavaday cited personal reasons for his decision to step away.
In his absence, Raducanu had her mother, Renee, in the stands alongside her new fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura. However, she visibly struggled in the closing stages of the physically demanding match.
Raducanu had shown promise earlier in the season, reaching the third round of the Australian Open. However, her early exit in Singapore raises concerns about her form and ability to compete at the highest level without a dedicated coach. The British No. 2 will now need to regroup as she prepares for upcoming tournaments, hoping to regain her confidence and consistency on the court.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
