In a rain-affected start to the WTA 500 Korea Open 2025, Emma Raducanu finally took to the court on Wednesday, edging past Jacqueline Cristian with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-4. This second-round match, originally scheduled for Tuesday but postponed due to inclement weather, turned out to be a test of resilience for the British No. 1.
Raducanu, the tournament’s eighth seed, managed to fend off a spirited challenge from Cristian over a grueling 2 hours and 2 minutes. Looking ahead, Raducanu will face former world No. 2 Barbora Krejcikova in the next round, adding to the excitement of her campaign.
After dropping to 1-3 early in the first set, Raducanu showcased her tenacity, eventually taking command. She had initially faced a shaky start, as Cristian produced seven winners before Raducanu could register any. Despite Cristian having the upper hand in terms of fired winners—25 to Raducanu’s 15—the British player proved to be more effective in crucial moments throughout the match.
“I feel like I’ve played this match for the last three days,” Raducanu stated in her post-match interview, clearly feeling the weight of waiting for her match amid the unfavorable weather. The match featured plenty of tension, with both players frequently facing deuce in most service games. Ultimately, Raducanu broke Cristian’s serve to surge to a 5-3 lead, aided by a couple of double faults from her opponent.
The second set began with Cristian breaking Raducanu, but the 22-year-old showcased her potential by rebounding strongly to take control. At 4-4, Cristian stumbled, allowing Raducanu to consolidate her position and seal her victory after saving a break point with an impressive forehand winner.
In discussing her decision to participate in the Korea Open instead of the Billie Jean King Cup, Raducanu explained, “It was a truly difficult decision… However, the Korea Open was a crucial time for me to get in sync with my new coach, Francis [Roig].” This decision appears to be paying off as Raducanu aims to enhance her ranking, currently standing at No. 32, which could secure her a seed at the upcoming Australian Open.
As Raducanu moves forward in the tournament, she hopes for continued good form, especially against a formidable opponent like Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam champion. In other matches played on Wednesday, defending champion Beatriz Haddad Maia and Russia’s Diana Shnaider both progressed to the next round, showcasing their skills in tight matches.
Amid the swirling conditions in Seoul, this tournament marks a significant opportunity for players to solidify their rankings and prepare for the season’s final stretch.
