© Getty Images Sport – Dave Rowland
Emma Raducanu has started her post-surgery comeback in Auckland with a win, while Elina Svitolina won the battle of moms and defending champion Coco Gauff also ended victorious in her opener.
Raducanu, who received a main draw wildcard into Auckland, defeated world No. 134 Elena-Gabriela Ruse. 6-3 4-6 7-5. By beating qualifier Ruse, Raducanu set up an Auckland round-of-16 against Svitolina, who defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3. Meanwhile, Gauff, the No. 1 seed in Auckland, claimed a routine 6-4 6-2 win over 95th-ranked Liu.
The first break points and break of the Raducanu and Ruse match were seen in the eighth game, when the Briton broke the Romanian for a 5-3 lead. In the following game, Raducanu realized her first set point to clinch the opener.
After winning the first set, Raducanu missed out on three break points in the first game before losing her service in the following game. Raducanu managed to get the break back in the fifth game but Ruse broke the Briton again in the sixth game for a 4-2 lead. Raducanu didn’t allow Ruse to serve out for the second set in the ninth game but she still lost the set after failing to serve out the…
