On January 2, 2024, Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, marked her return to the WTA Tour with a hard-fought victory over Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. The first-round clash, their only WTA Tour meeting to date, ended with Raducanu triumphing 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in a thrilling three-set battle that lasted two hours and 27 minutes. This match, her first competitive outing in nine months following surgeries on both wrists and her left ankle, showcased her resilience and determination to reclaim her place among tennis’s elite. “It’s difficult after having such a long hiatus, but I’m grateful to be healthy,” Raducanu said post-match, her voice tinged with relief. “I’m grateful to be able to move my body and not bedridden or in a wheelchair.”
The Auckland encounter was a test of both physical and mental fortitude for Raducanu, who had plummeted to No. 298 in the WTA rankings due to her injury-enforced absence. Entering as a wildcard, she faced Ruse, a qualifier ranked No. 119, who brought familiarity with the Auckland courts after navigating two qualifying rounds, including a tough win over Germany’s Jule Niemeier. Raducanu stormed out of the gates, leveraging her powerful groundstrokes to claim the first set 6-3 in just 37 minutes, breaking Ruse’s serve twice. “I love being back in Auckland, I’m having a blast so far,” she told the crowd, her enthusiasm palpable despite the rust of her long layoff.
Ruse, known for her aggressive baseline game and inspired by compatriot Simona Halep, fought back fiercely in the second set. The 26-year-old Romanian, who won her maiden WTA title in Hamburg in 2021, capitalized on Raducanu’s tentative moments, leveling the match by taking the second set 6-4 with a crucial break. The third set was a rollercoaster, with Raducanu surging to a 5-2 lead, only for Ruse to claw back to 5-5, showcasing her tenacity. “It was a match with ups and downs and always difficult playing a friend in Gabi,” Raducanu acknowledged, highlighting their camaraderie off the court. Despite squandering her first three match points and running out of challenges midway through the decider, Raducanu secured three breaks of serve, finally sealing the victory on her own serve at the third opportunity with a pinpoint forehand winner.
The win set up a second-round clash with second seed Elina Svitolina, a former world No. 3, though Raducanu fell 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 in another three-set battle. “I’m just really happy to be back on the tour and can’t wait to start this season and carry on hopefully injury-free and healthy,” Raducanu said, her optimism undimmed by the loss. For Ruse, the defeat marked her second straight first-round exit at the ASB Classic, having retired injured the previous year against Coco Gauff. Yet, her performance against Raducanu underscored her potential, with her streaky but powerful game pushing the Brit to the brink.
This Auckland match was a pivotal moment for Raducanu, who was rebuilding her career after a challenging 2023 marred by injuries. Her 2024 season saw flashes of brilliance, including quarterfinal runs in Stuttgart, Eastbourne, Washington, and Seoul, and her first career Top 10 wins over Jessica Pegula and Maria Sakkari. Ruse, meanwhile, reached the third round of the 2024 US Open—her best Grand Slam result—and was runner-up at the 2025 Libema Open on grass, proving her growing prowess. The Auckland clash remains their only WTA Tour meeting, but their upcoming rematch at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal, where Raducanu leads the head-to-head 1-0, promises another fierce battle. With Raducanu ranked No. 45 and Ruse at No. 73, and betting odds favoring the Brit at -325, the stage is set for a compelling sequel. Raducanu’s ability to stay composed against Ruse’s unpredictable baseline aggression will be key, as she aims to build on her 2024 momentum and chase a US Open seeding.
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