Emma Raducanu suffers first-round loss as Ekaterina Alexandrova gets revenge for Australian Open defeat at Qatar Open
By Rhys Jones
Published 09/02/2025 at 21:04 GMT
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Emma Raducanu’s run of losses continued at the Qatar Open as she was beaten in straight sets to Ekaterina Alexandrova, who she defeated in the opening round of last month’s Australian Open. It was another first-round loss after bouncing out of Abu Dhabi and Singapore, doing so without a coach after Nick Cavaday stepped down for health reasons.
Emma Raducanu of Great Britain returns the ball during the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, part of the Hologic WTA Tour at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on February 9, 2025 in Doha, Qatar
Image credit: Getty Images
Emma Raducanu's losing streak continued as she was beaten 6-3 7-5 by Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Qatar Open.
Her first-round defeat in Doha marks the fourth loss on the bounce for the Brit as her form continues to plummet following her exit at the Australian Open, where she beat Alexandrova 7-6(4) 7-6(2).
She let a 3-1 lead slip in both sets and failed to take control of the tie at its pivotal moments.
With Raducanu squandering her lead in the opening set, Alexandrova powered back and edged ahead 5-3.
Mistakes cost the 22-year-old in the final game of the set, firing two shots long and despite saving two set points, she rifled the ball into the net and ceded the first set.
The second set followed a similar pattern as Raducanu took a 3-1 lead once again.
A lengthy pause in play on account of a faulty display screen may have been enough for Raducanu to lose focus, and Alexandrova broke her serve in the set's fifth game before she clinched the sixth and tied the set.
Refusing to allow Alexandrova to take control like she did in the first set, Raducanu upped the aggression and started to play more assertively.
It allowed her to match Alexandrova's firepower in a similar way to her win over the Russian in January, and the pair traded the next four games.
The quality of tennis from both players had improved and Alexandrova was beginning to hit her big groundstrokes, and she broke Raducanu's serve once again to take a 6-5 lead.
The Brit offered a good defence in the deciding game but another overhit shot handed the match to Alexandrova.
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Raducanu has yet to taste victory since her coach Nick Cavaday stepped down following the Australian Open, citing health reasons. Since then, she has faced several powerful opponents, losing to Marketa Vondrousova in Abu Dhabi and Cristina Bucsa in Singapore.
Alexandrova admitted that she was targeting revenge after losing to Raducanu in Melbourne.
"I was looking forward to this match because last match we played it was really close and really difficult," said Alexandrova. "I was really upset after that match, so when I saw the draw, I thought maybe it’s gonna be my chance.
"I’m really happy with the win, especially after what happened at the Australian Open."
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