Emma Raducanu made a winning return to tennis after eight months out following injuries, defeating Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3 4-6 7-5 to set up an ASB Classic last-16 tie vs second seed Elina Svitolina.
Having stormed out to a strong start to take the first set 6-3, Raducanu was pegged back in the second as the hard-hitting Ruse pushed on to claim the set 6-4.
Despite running out of challenges midway through the third set, failing to take her first three match points and seeing a 5-2 lead slip to 5-5, Raducanu crucially claimed three breaks within it, kicking on to eventually claim the match at the third time of asking on her own service game.
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Raducanu hit an impressive forehand winner in her clash with Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the ASB Classic in Auckland
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Emma Raducanu gets a crucial double-break of serve in the deciding set against Elena-Gabriela Ruse in Auckland.
Raducanu, who last played on the WTA Tour in Stuttgart in April, has been absent since after surgeries on both wrists and her left ankle.
Her absence has seen her drop to 298th in the world, while it was at the ASB Classic in Auckland last year that Raducanu departed in tears after suffering an ankle injury.
The 21-year-old missed out on a wildcard for the Australian Open which begins on January 14, meaning she will have to reach the tournament via qualifying – as she did on her run to a historic title at Flushing Meadows in 2021.
Raducanu has failed to progress past the second round of a Grand Slam since her New York triumph.
Former No 1 Caroline Wozniacki started the New Year with a loss, going down 6-4 6-3 to second-seeded Svitolina.
In a hard-hitting match, there were five service breaks in the first set and Svitolina gained a vital third break in the 10th game.
She then broke Wozniacki to lead 3-1 in the second set and again in the eighth game before serving out the set and match.
Wozniacki made a strong comeback in 2023 after being away from tennis for more than three years. She looked impressively fit at the start of the new season and her double-handed backhand and running forehand were still weapons.
US Open champion Gauff begins 2024 with victory over Liu in Auckland
US Open champion Coco Gauff started her 2024 season and her defence of the Auckland Tennis Classic title on Tuesday with a rusty-at-times 6-4 6-2 win over American compatriot Claire Liu.
Gauff used her powerful forehand well but took time to find her range, over-hitting at times in the first set. She raced to an early 4-0 lead then dropped serve, served for the first set at 5-2 and lost serve again to love before composing herself to overcome a tenacious performance by Liu.
Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 for her first major title last year.
On Tuesday, Gauff mostly stuck to the baseline while Liu came more often and effectively to the net. But as Gauff settled in and found her service rhythm, she took the second set more convincingly in 35 minutes, the match in 82 minutes.
“Happy to start off the season with a win,” Gauff said. “I needed to be tested.
“I feel like I played well today for the first match in a while and I’m happy with my level. Obviously there are things I can improve but I did what I needed to do to win.”