Emma Raducanu launched her season with a resilient victory at the Hobart International, completing a straight-sets success over Camila Osorio after their match was stretched across two days by persistent rain. The British top seed prevailed 6–3, 7–6 (7–2), overturning a second-set deficit to claim her first win since September.
The contest had been halted the previous day with Raducanu a set ahead but trailing 4–2 in the second. After slipping to 1–4 and then trailing 2–4 when rain halted play, Raducanu regained control, erased the deficit and closed out the set in a tie-break that she dominated from the outset.
Returning to court on Wednesday, she appeared sharp and composed, immediately applying pressure on Osorio’s serve and capitalising when the Colombian faltered while serving for the set at 5–4. In the breaker, Raducanu’s cleaner ball striking and superior depth from the baseline proved decisive.
The 23-year-old was contesting only her second match of the year following a loss at the United Cup on her return from a right-foot issue that had disrupted her pre-season. The Hobart performance, however, underlined increasing match fitness and confidence.
Raducanu described it as a “very, very difficult match”, noting the challenge of going “on and off a few times” due to the conditions, and praised Osorio’s resilience while expressing satisfaction at turning the encounter around.
With Magdalena Frech withdrawing through injury, Raducanu avoided a double duty day and progressed directly to a quarter-final meeting with Australian wildcard Taylah Preston. As the Australian Open approaches, this victory provides timely momentum and competitive rhythm at the start of the new season.
