Emma Raducanu: Brit suffers another first-round exit after loss to ...

Emma Raducanu suffered a disappointing first-round defeat at the Abu Dhabi Open, going down to fellow wildcard Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets 6-3 6-4.

The defeat is the Brit's second first-round exit in quick succession following her loss against world No 101 Cristina Bucsa of Spain in the Singapore Open last month.

Raducanu - who complained of a neck injury during the contest - started positively up against 2023 Wimbledon champion Vondrousova, breaking her opponent to move 3-1 ahead.

In the very next service game, the Brit failed to consolidate that break of serve, however, and was broken straight back by the Czech.

Buoyed by the momentum of her response, Vondrousova kicked on to hold serve and then break Raducanu again to lead 4-3.

Raducanu's first-set collapse was completed when Vondrousova held serve once more and broke the Brit for a third time to seal the opener 6-3.

The second set proved tighter as Raducanu dug in to remain on serve through the first six games to 3-3, before a really tight game in which Raducanu repeatedly forced deuce was eventually secured by Vondrousova for 4-3 - the Czech's serve getting her out of trouble.

From a position of 30-0 ahead, Raducanu then lost four straight points on serve to surrender a critical break.

Serving for the match, a nervy Vondrousova fell 15-40 down, allowing Raducanu to break straight back and continue the clash.

The Czech forced three match points on the next Raducanu service game, though, clinching the third of those to seal victory.

Vondrousova will next face fourth seed Yulia Putintseva in the second round.

Raducanu is travelling with only fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura following former coach Nick Cavaday's decision to step down for health reasons, but she did have another old childhood mentor, Roman Kelecic, in her corner.

Meanwhile, Jodie Burrage was beaten 6-2 6-3 by Ana Bogdan in the Transylvania Open.

Alcaraz advances in Rotterdam; Norrie up and running

Carlos Alcaraz gained revenge for his shock US Open exit last year with victory over Botic van de Zandschulp in the ABN AMRO Open.

Alcaraz was beaten by Van de Zandschulp in the second round at Flushing Meadows and again found the Dutch wild card a tough opponent before securing a 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-1 win in Rotterdam.

"I think [there] were a lot of ups and downs in the match," Alcaraz said. "Being set point down in the first set, I think Botic played a really solid match. Not too many ups and downs for him, really consistent throughout the match. I'm just really happy to get through.

"[I had to] be really focused in the tough moments, to keep pushing and trust the good tennis will come again. I'm happy to get through a difficult match and have a chance to get better in the next round."

Van de Zandschulp hit two double faults when attempting to serve out the first set at 5-4 and, after taking the second set 6-3, two more double faults in his opening service game of the decider gifted Alcaraz an advantage he was not about to let slip.

Norrie wins in Dallas

Britain's Cameron Norrie recorded his first win of 2025 at the Dallas Open, beating seventh seed Alex Michelsen 2-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-1.

The 29-year-old saved 11 break points over the course of the match against the American, ranked 27 places higher than Norrie at 36th in the world after the Briton's recent injury troubles.

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