Korea Open: Raducanu grabs win against Peyton Stearns

Emma Raducanu earned her first win of the Hologic WTA Tour Asian swing the hard way, holding off No. 49 Peyton Stearns 7-6(4), 7-6(5) in the first round of the Hana Bank Korea Open.

The 21-year-old Brit and 2021 US Open champion prevailed over her opponents in a 2-hour and 43-minute game on a hot and humid day. The game also witnessed a 45-minute recess due to excessive heat.

The victory is Raducanu’s first since defeating Stearns in Washington, D.C., in July. She improved to 2-0 against the American.

Raducanu served for both sets but was forced into a tiebreak twice by Stearns. It was the second-longest straight-sets match of 2024 so far, following Sara Sorribes Tormo’s 7-6(0), 6-3 defeat of Victoria Azarenka in the Madrid third round at 2 hours and 50 minutes.

Raducanu, who was a semifinalist in 2022, will face last year’s runner-up No. 40, Yuan Yue next. Raducanu has now won six of her last seven matches against Top 50 opposition.

Raducanu’s win was one of a series of upsets on Day 2 in Seoul. The day began with No. 46 Amanda Anisimova ousting No. 30 Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 7-6(5). No.102 Hailey Baptiste followed suit, defeating No.65 Sloane Stephens 7-6(4), 6-2.

Lucky loser Polina Kudermetova, who moved into the main draw after Guadalajara champion Magdalena Frech withdrew, toppled Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon 7-5, 6-4. She joins older sister Veronika in the second round — the second time both Kudermetovas have reached the second round of a WTA tournament following s-Hertogenbosch 2023.