Emma Raducanu’s bid to reach the quarter-finals of the Abu Dhabi Open was ended in straight sets by world number six Ons Jabeur.
Britain’s Raduckanu has made encouraging progress in his comeback after eight months out following wrist and ankle surgery. The 21-year-old briefly pushed past three-time Grand Slam finalist Jabr in a close first set.
But Tunisia’s Jaber, the Wimbledon runner-up in the previous two years, was too strong in the end and won 6-4, 6-1. Raducanu lost serve in the first game and was quickly doubled at 5-1.
But the 2021 U.S. Open champion is slowly starting to remind everyone just how cleanly she hits the ball when she’s at her best. She saved three set points, then broke Jabr’s serve, trailing 5-3, and then tied the score to one game with a tenacious hold.
However, Jaber maintained serve in the next game and won the first set within 50 minutes. The second seed seized the third break point and took the initiative at the start of the second set.
Raducanu, who last reached the quarterfinals in September 2022, had no answers this time against a string of winners – Jabr shot 35 in total – and bowed out.
“Obviously, she didn’t make it easy for me,” the 29-year-old Jabr said in an on-court interview.
“Emma is a very good player and I wish her all the best because I know she can play even better. I’m a big fan of hers.
“Emma had an amazing experience at the U.S. Open and everyone followed her. She had an amazing career. Everyone has a different story and we struggled a lot and went through a lot. But There are a lot of great women on tour.”
