{"id":43116,"date":"2025-02-09T15:07:53","date_gmt":"2025-02-09T20:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/emma-raducanu-knocked-out-of-qatar-open-by-ekaterina-alexandrova-in-third-successive-first-round-defeat-tennis-news\/09\/02\/2025\/"},"modified":"2025-02-09T15:07:53","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T20:07:53","slug":"emma-raducanu-knocked-out-of-qatar-open-by-ekaterina-alexandrova-in-third-successive-first-round-defeat-tennis-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/emma-raducanu-knocked-out-of-qatar-open-by-ekaterina-alexandrova-in-third-successive-first-round-defeat-tennis-news\/09\/02\/2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Emma Raducanu knocked out of Qatar Open by Ekaterina Alexandrova in third successive first-round defeat | Tennis News"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Emma Raducanu suffered her third first-round tournament defeat inside two weeks as she lost 6-3 7-5 to Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Qatar Open.<\/p>\n

The 22-year-old Briton had been handed her second successive wildcard for the WTA’s latest tournament in the Middle East but was handed a tough draw against the Russian world No 25, who was fresh from winning the Linz Open last week.<\/p>\n

Raducanu had beaten Alexandrova in the first round of the Australian Open last month but the Russian ultimately proved too strong here.<\/p>\n

The Brit started strongly in both sets with early breaks of serve but Alexandrova soon cancelled out Raducanu’s advantage each time.<\/p>\n

Alexandrova won the final five games of the first set and, after trading breaks of serve in the second, a decisive break when tied at 5-5 made the decisive difference.<\/p>\n

The result means that Alexandrova, rather than Raducanu, will now face world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Tuesday’s second round.<\/p>\n

More to follow…<\/em><\/p>\n

Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, including the US Open in New York, live on Sky Sports throughout 2025. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports<\/a> or stream with no contract on NOW<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Emma Raducanu suffered her third first-round tournament defeat inside two weeks as she lost 6-3 7-5 to Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Qatar