Emma Raducanu has secured a hard-fought and much-needed first victory of the season, overcoming Colombia's Camila Osorio at the Hobart International. The British number one triumphed 6-3, 7-6 (2) in a match that was split over two days due to heavy rain.
A Victory Forged in Resilience
The win in Tasmania marks Raducanu's first match victory since September 2025, ending a challenging period disrupted by a foot injury. Her only previous outing this season was a three-set defeat to Maria Sakkari at the United Cup. Facing world number 82 Osorio, the top seed in Hobart navigated not just a tricky opponent but also the frustration of an overnight interruption.
When play was suspended on Tuesday, the momentum had swung decisively. After taking the first set, Raducanu had grown passive, allowing Osorio to seize control. The Colombian led 4-1 in the second set, threatening to force a decider. Raducanu had just clawed one break back, with the score at 2-4 and deuce on her serve, when the rain arrived.
Transformation After the Delay
The player who returned to the court on Wednesday was transformed. Raducanu emerged with clear intent, stepping inside the baseline to dictate rallies with authority. Her forehand was a potent weapon, and she struck her backhand down the line with precision. This aggressive approach allowed her to overpower Osorio, winning seven of the final nine games to close out the match, culminating in a dominant 7-2 tie-break.
"Very, very difficult match," Raducanu admitted afterwards. "We played under all conditions and coming on, coming off, a few times, it was really difficult. I don't think I've slept over many matches in between so that was also a new one for me." She paid tribute to Osorio's "incredible match" and defence, but expressed clear satisfaction with her own comeback: "I'm just really pleased with how I came out today and turned it around."
Technical Tweaks and Future Focus
The off-season, though hampered by her injury, was not idle. Raducanu revealed she had worked on static feeding drills and made a subtle technical adjustment to her game. She has lengthened her forehand swing in a bid to generate more power, spin, and weight of shot, a change aimed at helping her compete with the tour's biggest hitters.
This victory provides a crucial opportunity to build match rhythm and confidence with those adjustments. Raducanu acknowledged the psychological importance of such tight wins: "These ones mean so much more. It's such a fine line between winning and losing a match like that... This is a very good day for sure to stack up."
Her next challenge in Hobart will be a second-round encounter against Poland's Magdalena Frech, the world number 57. A further victory would offer valuable ranking points and competitive minutes as Raducanu continues her journey back to full fitness and form.
