In the rain-soaked courts of Seoul’s Olympic Park Tennis Center, Emma Raducanu delivered a performance that was as much a testament to her resilience as it was a step toward her loftiest ambitions. The 22-year-old British star, still chasing the magic of her 2021 US Open triumph, battled through a grueling first-round match at the Korea Open to secure a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian. This hard-fought win, achieved amidst frustrating weather delays, propelled Raducanu to a pivotal milestone: a climb to No. 32 in the WTA live rankings, achieving her goal of securing a seeded position for the 2026 Australian Open. But as she prepares for a daunting second-round clash, the question looms—can she hold on to this hard-earned ranking and push even further?
The Korea Open has been a battle against the elements as much as the opposition. Persistent rain pushed Raducanu’s opening match from Tuesday to Wednesday, with further delays forcing players and fans to endure a stop-start schedule. When she finally stepped onto the court, Raducanu faced a stern test from Cristian, ranked No. 41 and riding a wave of recent strong form. The match was a rollercoaster, with Raducanu dropping her serve early and facing a staggering 12 break points in the first set alone. Yet, her resolve shone through. Saving 11 of those break points and unleashing a decisive forehand winner to level the score at 3-3, she seized control, closing out the set 6-3 with a commanding 67 percent first-serve accuracy.
The second set was no less dramatic, a chaotic exchange of breaks that saw neither player hold serve consistently. Cristian surged ahead 2-0, but Raducanu responded with five aces and a stunning cross-court winner that left her opponent scrambling. By the ninth game, a crucial break put her on the brink of victory. Despite Cristian’s late push, earning a break point in the final game, Raducanu sealed the match on her first match point, collapsing in relief after a two-hour, two-minute battle. “Super happy to have won today,” she said in her on-court interview, her voice carrying the weight of the ordeal. “It hasn’t been easy, I feel like I’ve played this match the last three days. To have pulled through after waiting, I’m super pleased with how I came through. Jaqueline is a really tough opponent and had great results recently. Tough conditions, very slow, long rallies, long points, so happy to have gotten through.”
This victory marks a critical moment for Raducanu, who has made no secret of her 2025 goal: to crack the top 32 and secure a seed at the Australian Open, avoiding early-round clashes with tennis’s elite. Her decision to skip the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, opting instead for the WTA 500 event in Seoul, sparked debate among British fans who felt she should have represented her country. Yet, the move paid dividends, with the win over Cristian lifting her past China’s Wang Xinyu to No. 32 in the live rankings. “This is where I’m at with my ranking,” Raducanu said earlier this year, reflecting on her need to close the gap with top players. “I can play top opponents in the first, second, or third round. So I’ve just got to do my best in the next few months until Australia to just keep working to try and close the gap.”
Her next challenge is a formidable one: a second-round showdown with former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam winner who dismantled Tatiana Prozorova 6-1, 6-2 in her opener. Krejcikova, ranked No. 39 but showing resurgent form after a US Open quarter-final run, presents a tactical puzzle with her versatile game. A win could propel Raducanu into the top 30, especially since she has only 10 points to defend from last year’s US Open first-round exit. A deeper run in Seoul, followed by strong showings at the upcoming WTA 1000 events in Beijing and Wuhan, could even see her crack the top 20, enhancing her prospects for a favorable draw in Melbourne.
Raducanu’s journey since her US Open fairy-tale has been turbulent, marked by injuries, coaching changes, and off-court pressures, including a disturbing stalker incident earlier this year. Yet, her performance in Seoul, backed by new coach Francisco Roig, signals a player rediscovering her spark. “I think I’m improving for sure in the last few months,” she noted, her confidence bolstered by recent competitive showings against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. As she navigates the Asian swing, Raducanu’s focus is clear: maintain her ranking surge and silence doubters. With Krejcikova standing in her way and the specter of Swiatek looming, the road ahead is fraught with challenges, but Raducanu’s Seoul triumph proves she’s ready to fight for her place among the elite.
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