Competing for the first time since the Australian Open, Emma Raducanu retired with a hip injury against Daria Saville in the opening round of the Abierto Akron Zapopan, the longest match on the WTA Tour so far in the 2022 season.
Playing for the first time since discomforting blisters on her racquet hand left her hampered in a three-set defeat to Danka Kovinic in the second round of the Australian Open, Raducanu retired due to a hip injury in Guadalajara, with her upper left thigh heavily taped, shortly after taking a medical timeout.
Even though the battle was cut short midway through the third set, at 5-7 7-6(4) 4-3, it managed to become the longest match of the 2022 WTA season. It lasted three hours and 36 minutes, overtaking Danka Kovinic’s victory over Jang Su-Jeong at the Australian Open that lasted three hours and nine minutes.
Neither Raducanu nor Saville played their best tennis on Tuesday night in Mexico, with the Brit saving 16 of 21 break points and the Australian 13 of 19 in the grueling contest. The top-seeded Raducanu battled back from a break down to win the first set in 80 minutes. Serving at 5-3 in the second set, Raducanu was just two points away from victory.
Reigning US Open champion Raducanu has won just one of her three matches so far in 2022.
Former Top 20 player Saville, currently ranked No.610, is working her way back up after undergoing surgery on her achilles tendon last year. Her opponent in the second round will be American qualifier Caroline Dolehide.
