For now, the 21-year-old’s attention will be on the ASB Classic in Auckland, where she faces No 2 seed Elina Svitolina in the second round. Raducanu defeated good friend and qualifier Ruse on Tuesday in what was her first match in 259 days.
Raducanu took the first set 6-3 before Ruse raced to a 3-0 lead in the second. The Brit was able to get back on serve but both women continued to break each other until the Romanian took it 6-4. Raducanu secured a double break in the final set and led 5-2 but failed to serve it out twice, also blowing two match points on Ruse’s serve.
She remained patient and earned another break after dropping three games in a row, eventually serving out a 6-3 4-6 7-5 victory. After the match, Raducanu said: “It’s difficult after having such a long hiatus but I’m grateful to be healthy, I’m grateful to be able to move my body, not like bedridden or in a wheelchair. So it’s pretty amazing to be just out here and playing.”
