Emma Raducanu digs deep to win first round in Montreal
Raducanu plays a shot to Elena-Gabriela Ruse (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Raducanu was swiftly back in action after her last-four run in Washington, but quickly in trouble as Ruse forced five break points in the opening game of the match.
In more hot and humid conditions in Canada, British number one Raducanu showed her resilience and leaned on her improved serve to claim a crucial hold before more issues were forthcoming in her next service game.
After Raducanu again survived, having been taken to deuce, she sensed her moment and was able to break Ruse to move 3-2 up after the Romanian sent down two double-faults.
YES! @EmmaRaducanu breezes through round one at @OBNmontreal ❤️🔥
She beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-2, 6-4 to advance & continue her strong form#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/LxC7efGWM4
— LTA (@the_LTA) July 28, 2025
It sparked a run of six consecutive games for Raducanu as she clinched the opener by a 6-2 score, but an early break at the start of the second set was followed by an immediate response from Ruse.
While Raducanu forced more break points on Ruse's serve, it was not until the seventh game of set two when the 2021 US Open champion broke again to move 4-3 ahead.
It started a run of three consecutive breaks before Raducanu kept her cool to close out victory at the first time of asking on serve after a demanding one-hour-and-37-minute battle in the country of her birth.
Next up for Raducanu is a second-round meeting with 32nd seed Peyton Stearns.
Katie Boulter was unable to join her compatriot in the next round after she lost 6-1 7-5 to Renata Zarazua.
Boulter only narrowly avoided a first-set bagel and despite an improved level in the second set, she suffered a third successive loss.
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