DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In a heart-wrenching clash at the Dubai Championships, Emma Raducanu, the champion of the 2021 U.S. Open, faced a tough defeat with a score of 7-6 (6), 6-4 against Karolina Muchova in the second round.
Also facing an unexpected exit was third-ranked Coco Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open titleholder, who fell in the second round to McCartney Kessler, marking a surprising upset in this WTA 1,000-level event.
Raducanu was visibly shaken, showing signs of tears as she approached the umpire after the second game, leading to a brief pause in the match on Court 2. Typically, players seize an opportunity to hydrate and regroup after the third game.
After an early setback that had her trailing 0-2, Raducanu paused briefly, standing between the umpire’s chair and the courtside screen. Muchova took a moment to offer her support before Raducanu composed herself, grabbed a towel, and returned to the action with renewed determination.
Despite falling behind 4-0 in the first set, Raducanu showcased her resilience, fighting back to level the score and push the set into a tiebreaker. Unfortunately, she faced another break at the start of the second set.
The 14th-seeded Muchova progressed further in the tournament, set to face No. 53-ranked Kessler, who followed her impressive victory over Amanda Anisimova with a surprising win against Gauff, finishing with a score of 6-4, 7-5.
This loss marked a significant moment for Gauff, who had not lost to an opponent ranked outside the top 50 since her defeat to Sofia Kenin (ranked 128th) at Wimbledon in 2023.
Earlier in the day, second-seeded Iga Swiatek dominated Victoria Azarenka with a decisive 6-0, 6-2 victory and is set to face Dayana Yastremska next in the quest for a quarterfinal berth.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka also moved ahead, eliminating Veronia Kudermetova with a score of 6-3, 6-4, while defending champion Jasmine Paolini overcame Eva Lys, clinching a 6-2, 7-5 victory.
Advancing alongside them were Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Paula Badosa, setting the stage for an exhilarating continuation of the tournament.
