In a stunning reversal of fortune at the Korea Open, Britain's Emma Raducanu experienced one of the most crushing defeats of her career, surrendering three match points to fall to former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova.
The gripping quarter-final encounter in Seoul saw Raducanu fight back from a set down to force a decider, seemingly seizing control of the match. The 21-year-old British number one demonstrated fierce resilience, pushing the contest to a final-set tiebreak where she established a commanding 6-3 lead.
Heartbreak in the Tiebreak
With victory firmly within her grasp, Raducanu held three consecutive opportunities to clinch the match. Yet, in a dramatic twist, the composure that had defined her performance evaporated. Krejcikova, drawing upon her grand slam experience, mounted a fearless comeback, saving all three match points with aggressive, precision tennis.
The Czech star then capitalized on her momentum, reeling off five unanswered points to snatch the tiebreak 8-6 and secure a place in the semi-finals with a 6-7(2), 7-5, 7-6(6) victory.
A Bitter Pill to Swallow
This loss represents a significant missed opportunity for Raducanu, who was competing in her first WTA quarter-final since April. The match, which stretched over three hours, was a brutal physical and mental test. Despite showing flashes of the brilliant form that won her the US Open in 2021, the inability to close out the match from such an advantageous position will undoubtedly be a tough lesson.
For Krejcikova, this victory continues her impressive hard-court form and sets up a semi-final clash against either top seed Jelena Ostapenko or American qualifier Claire Liu. The win marks another chapter in her successful comeback from injury.
