Emma Raducanu has risen up the rankings and now overtaken Caroline Wozniacki through her dogged 7-6(4) 7-6(5) Korea Open first-round victory over American Peyton Stearns.
Raducanu secured just her first victory since July while in Asia, boosting her world ranking by 10 places in the process as a welcomed bonus. The Brit began at world No. 70 but has moved past stars such as Wozniacki on her rise to world No. 60.
It took two hours and 46 minutes for her to get the job done in two tiebreaks, coming on top against another player in Stearns who had not competed since their US Open exit.
“It was tough, it was very humid, the balls were bouncing around a lot,” the 21-year-old said. “It was a tough match to get through. I haven’t played many matches in the last few months and Peyton, she’s a really good player in really good form so I’m pretty pleased.
“I really love playing here in Seoul and I missed it last year but one of the tournaments that I really want come back to and I actually think it gave me some fuel to fight in that match just so I can play another match in front of you guys.”
Having moved up to a projected ranking of 60 in the WTA Live Rankings, Raducanu could return to the top 40 should she lift the title as a host of big names dropped out of the event. Iga Swiatek’s withdrawal ensured that all four top-10 players scheduled to compete in Seoul pulled out, Swiatek joining Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro and Elena Rybakina on the sidelines.
Their omissions have opened the door to the likes of Raducanu, hoping to claim her first title since her US Open victory as a qualifier in 2021. And to do so she will have to overcome world No. 40 Yuan Yue in the next round, after the eighth-seed came back from a set down to defeat qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
Raducanu was slammed for her decision to take time away from tournaments at several points in the year, but has a chance to boost her ranking with a string of events in Asia over the Autumn.
After admitting that she was wrong not to compete in the build-up to this year’s US Open, the Brit could return to the top 50 by reaching the quarter-finals in Korea.
WTA 1000 events in Beijing and Wuhan follow and Raducanu could even push for the top 30 should she enjoy success in the East, with a chance to overtake Katie Boulter and become British No. 1 again. The pair will then reunite to compete at the Billie Jean King Cup finals together in November.