Emma Raducanu digs deep to beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse in first round in Montreal
The world number 33 weathered the storm and despite a run of six games in a row midway through the match, Raducanu was largely forced to battle and scrap to ensure she chalked up a sixth win from her last eight matches.
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Grieve honoured to return to Defender Burghley Horse Trials
Grieve, 43, will take to the saddle once more in three week's time at Burghley House in Stamford as he competes across three disciplines of show jumping, dressage and cross-country at the prestigious competition. The Leicestershire-based event rider will compete on Autograf, a 13-year-old British-bred sport horse, and will be cheered on by plenty of friends and family as he competes at the 5* event under an hour from his home. 'It's basically like having the events in our back garden, near enough,' he said. 'What's great about the event is there is something for everyone so even my neighbours will be coming to watch because they're coming to have a lovely time and also I'll be here as well. 'It's lovely to have local support and knowing that lots of my mates will be here. It's wonderful in that respect.' Grieve's family have long been involved in the world-renowned eventing competition throughout the years he has competed, having first ridden in 2012. Their attendance will once more be expected to cheer him on around the course as he recalls fond memories of past competitions with his mum. 'My mum has been a fence judge for lots of years and she's been fence judging every time I've competed and I've always shouted, 'Hi Mum!' as I've jumped her jump which is quite sweet,' enthused Grieve. 'Last time I was here and I was approaching her jump she said to someone, 'Oh, he'll say 'Hi mum,'' and I was like, 'Hi Mum!' and she was like, 'See!' 'So Mum will definitely be here and Dad hopefully as well. My sister is actually fence judging this time which is cool.' Having completed the course an impressive six times before, Grieve is hoping to improve his performance once more, but mainly the privilege of attending means he is also focused on enjoying the whole experience. 'To just compete is a massive feather in the cap but to actually win doesn't even bear thinking about. I couldn't imagine if I won, I would be doing cartwheels everywhere,' he said. 'My expectations this time round. I just want to improve on the last time that I was here and try and up my placing a little bit. 'Maybe I would like to up my pace on the cross country a little bit because I am quite slow in that respect. This horse actually moves quite nicely so should contest. 'But mostly I want to have a lovely time, I want my horse to have a really lovely time and come back safe having enjoyed the experience. 'It's all about that really, I want my horse to have enjoyed it more than anything.' Grieve will experience the reverse of the cross country course for the first time since 2017 which will bring a new challenge to riders in 2025. And though such a change will bring a fresh excitement, the historic event which has been at the pinnacle of eventing for decades will remain as special as ever for riders and spectators alike. 'Burghley has got such an amazing atmosphere in every sense,' added Grieve. 'It's a really tough competition so it's really exciting to watch, but equally there's a huge village of trade stands and shops and experiences and things for everybody. 'It's not just for horsey folks, it's also for anybody else. It's something that all the family can enjoy so it's really worth coming to. 'It's a great experience for everybody and I really do hope many people come to enjoy the day.' Defender Burghley Horse Trials (4-7 September 2025) has been a major international sporting and social event for over 50 years. It attracts the world's top equestrians and is attended by vast and enthusiastic crowds. For more information visit
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Dillian Whyte will RETIRE if he loses to Moses Itauma, says rival Derek Chisora after revealing shock fight prediction
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. Chisora also opened up on a heated row he had with Whyte over the phone DILL BREAKER Dillian Whyte will RETIRE if he loses to Moses Itauma, says rival Derek Chisora after revealing shock fight prediction DEREK CHISORA wants Dillian Whyte to beat Moses Itauma on Saturday but reckons he retires if he loses. The 41-year-old veteran brawler has been in two brutal wars with the 37-year-old Body Snatcher - being robbed on points in the first and robbed of his senses in the second. Advertisement 6 Derek Chisora claims Dillian Whyte will retire if he loses to Moses Itauma 6 Itauma faces Whyte in Saudi Arabia Credit: Getty 6 Whyte comes into the bout as the underdog Credit: PA The pair have enjoyed a rollercoaster relationship - with a baffling blend of tables, compliments, glasses and insults famously thrown between them. But nine years on from their Manchester classic - which Whyte nicked on a split decision - Del Boy hopes his fellow throwback can spin back the clocks to stop the 20-year-old's hype train running through the division. And - if he doesn't - Chisora has heard on the grapevine that his two-fight foe will hang up his gloves. 'I would love to see Dillian win,' Chisora told SunSport's latest No Gloves Lost show. Because Dillian is from the old school. Advertisement READ MORE IN boxing Itauma vs Whyte All the details you need as British heavyweights clash in Saudi 'I love Moses but I have shared the ring with Dillian twice and I've sparred so many rounds with him. 'There's a young buck who's coming in the neighbourhood, who's just smoking everybody, so I would like to see Dillian win it, it would be amazing. 'I would love to see Dillian win it, but it's a long shot, because Moses is on the right track now. 'And plus, remember, Dillian apparently said if he gets beat, he's going to retire, that's the rumour." Advertisement 6 MOSES ITAUMA VS DILLIAN WHYTE: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT WATCH ITAUMA VS WHYTE LIVE ON DAZN CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Advertisement Despite Chisora hurling a glass and a table at Whyte before their two epic battles - one controversial decision, one vicious 11th round knockout - the two London giants have seemed like pals in the following years. Whyte even gave Chisora's nephew, Jermaine Dhilywaho, a slot on his Gibraltar undercard last year. If he wins I will fight him Chisora | No Glove Lost: Itauma vs Whyte fight preview | Sun Sport But Chisora has recently touched a nerve by commenting on the two doping charges Whyte beat, around the 2019 win over Oscar Rivas and the scrapped 2023 rematch with Anthony Joshua. UKAD's case against Whyte was dropped five months after beating Rivas - while "contamination" was determined to have caused his most recent adverse finding. Advertisement Whyte went without punishment for both cases in VADA tests and has not faced a ban for either incident. However Chisora is not letting it go and when asked about a couple of phone calls between the pair, Chisora revealed: 'I rang him and he didn't answer. 'Then he sent me a voice note saying: 'what are you ringing me for? You're not my friend, you're a snake. You're trying to take food out of my kids' mouths'. 'Because a couple of months ago I said that I think, if you get caught cheating in boxing, you should get banned for life. Advertisement 'Why should you have a disadvantage over someone else who is waking up every morning and training hard, but you train less and you inject yourself with something to beat the other guy? That's not fair. Remember, Dillian apparently said if he gets beat, he's going to retire, that's the rumour Derek Chisora 'That's my thing. I always tell the Board that if we catch someone cheating in boxing, you should get banned for at least 10 years.' Whyte was initially slated to fight on the undercard of protege Fabio Wardley's incredible win over Justis Huni at the start of June and Itauma was supposed to continue his steady trajectory on July 19 at Wembley. But Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh bulldozed those plans and stuck the two powerhouses together - but only after Chisora REJECTED a £2million offer. Advertisement On the cusp of his 50th professional fight, Del Boy explained why he turned down the deal. 'They offered it to me,' he confirmed. 'But I turned it down because I'm mandatory for the IBF. I told them I will stay in my position for the IBF.' Despite wisely rejecting the Riyadh Riyals for a sand dune shootout with a man half his age, Chisora says he has the recipe for Whyte - who howls his way into each fight - to spring an upset. After seeing a new six-pack on the old dog, he purred: 'He looks beautiful. He looks in amazing shape. Advertisement 'I think the big bad wolf is back. My plan would be just to rush him, just go and rush him. 'A lion is always a lion, it doesn't matter how old it is. If you see a lion in the park, you're gonna run.' Itauma vs. Whyte, August 16: Watch only on DAZN. Buy now at 6 Chisora was knocked out by Whyte in their 2018 rematch Credit: Getty Images - Getty Advertisement
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Rory McIlroy: I don't think it's possible to be a playing Ryder Cup captain
The Northern Irishman, Europe's leading points scorer in their victory in Rome two years ago, said the idea had already been raised with him but he rejected it out of hand. McIlroy, aged 36 and currently world number two, has plenty of time left at the top as a player, but it is a dilemma facing United States captain Keegan Bradley, whose form this year has elevated him to 12th in the world and 10th on America's qualification list. United States Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (Brian Lawless/PA). 'I've been asked to do that and I've turned it down,' said McIlroy, who was the first player to automatically qualify for Europe's team for next month's event at Bethpage in New York. 'The idea of me being a playing captain sometime soon has come up and I've shot it down straight away because I don't think you can do it. 'If you'd have said it 20 years ago I'd say it was probably possible to do, but how big of a spectacle it is and everything that's on the line in a Ryder Cup now, I just think it would be a very difficult position to be in. 'There's a lot of things that people don't see that the captain does the week of the Ryder Cup, especially now that the Ryder Cup has become so big. 'The captain's only going to be able to play one session on Friday, one session on Saturday. Would you rather not have a player that has the flexibility to go twice if he's playing well?' On Thursday McIlroy will tee off alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler in the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club outside Baltimore. The Northern Irishman opted to skip the opening event of the FedEx Cup as he knew he was already guaranteed a spot in the PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship next week and that drew some criticism. However, McIlroy argued his year is far from over as, in addition to the Ryder Cup, he will head back to the DP World Tour for a number of events, including the Irish Open and BMW Championship at Wentworth, before trying to win his seventh Race to Dubai title in November. 'A lot of the guys aren't 18 years into their professional career. I feel like I'm in a little bit of a different position,' he added. 'I'm playing nine times between now and the end of the year, so I've still got a pretty busy stretch coming up and I just think that extra week off will do me good with the events coming up.' Justin Rose's win on Sunday secured his Ryder Cup place (George Walker IV/AP) Justin Rose's play-off victory over JJ Spaun on Sunday guaranteed his place at the Ryder Cup but the Englishman said he had not been putting too much pressure on himself after being given a heads-up by Donald. 'Their preference was for me to be on the team, I just needed to kind of give them some decent evidence to sort of get me on the team,' he said. 'I haven't been putting myself under a lot of pressure really because of that, because I felt like playing a little bit better in Scotland and the Open was sort of enough to make sure they knew my game was still right there.'
