The 22-year-old Brit began the match with a tough start, losing her serve in the second game to fall behind 0-2. Overcome with emotion, she was seen in tears as she stood behind the umpire’s chair. Muchova, showing sportsmanship, approached Raducanu to offer her support before play resumed.
Muchova, the world No 17, quickly capitalized on Raducanu’s emotional state, storming to a commanding 4-0 lead. However, Raducanu showed her mettle by mounting a comeback, breaking Muchova’s serve when the Czech served for the set at 5-2. Raducanu then fought valiantly to save two set points while serving at 5-6, forcing a tiebreak. Despite earning a set point at 6-5, the Brit narrowly lost the tiebreak, giving Muchova the first set.
The second set started with a setback for Raducanu, as she was broken in the opening game. Though she fought hard to stay in the match, Raducanu was unable to recover the break. Muchova crucially held serve from 0-40 at 3-2, eventually closing out the match to seal a hard-fought win.
Despite the loss, Raducanu’s performance against Muchova—who was the French Open runner-up in 2023—offered plenty of positives. Raducanu faced a tough challenge, saving 10 of the 13 break points she faced, winning 68% of her first serve points, and landing six aces while committing just three double faults. This was a significant improvement from her earlier struggles with her serve, showing progress in her game.
Earlier in the tournament, Raducanu had ended a four-match losing streak with an impressive 6-4, 6-2 victory over Maria Sakkari in the first round, improving her head-to-head record against Sakkari to 3-0. This victory was a much-needed confidence booster, signaling a return to form for the former US Open champion.
In an interview following her match in Dubai, Raducanu expressed gratitude for the wildcards she had received to play in major events since the Australian Open, acknowledging their importance to her progress. “I’m very appreciative, very grateful for all the wildcards I’ve received the last few weeks. I just really wanted to fight, do my best,” Raducanu shared with The National.
Currently without a coach after Nick Cavaday’s departure following her Australian Open exit, Raducanu has found support from her long-time mentor, Jane O’Donoghue, who she describes as “a big sister.” Raducanu emphasized the importance of having a strong support system: “I think something really important has been having amazing people around me,” she said. “Jane, who I’ve known forever, she’s like a big sister to me. And Yutaka as well, their belief is unwavering, even though yours might quiver a little bit from time to time.”
Reflecting on her recent losses, Raducanu maintained a healthy perspective, noting that she hasn’t lost to poor players. “Ekaterina [Alexandrova] went on and made semis [in Doha], and Marketa [Vondrousova], who I lost to in Abu Dhabi, is a class opponent as well,” she remarked. “So I have to put things in perspective and just try to take care of my day and stay consistent and not let it run away from me.”
Despite the emotional rollercoaster, Raducanu’s progress in Dubai is a sign of steady growth, and with the right mindset and support, she is poised to continue improving and challenging the top players in the game.