Li capitalizes on Raducanu’s abrupt exit in Wuhan
Ann Li’s commanding play forces Emma Raducanu to retire early, advancing the American amid concerns over the Briton’s health on Wuhan’s hard courts.
In the humid embrace of Wuhan’s Optics Valley International Tennis Centre, Ann Li turned a tense opener into a straightforward progression, claiming a second-round spot when Emma Raducanu retired trailing 6-1, 4-1 due to dizziness. The American, seeded outside the top 40, had overcome an initial setback with a flurry of forehand winners and four aces, her baseline aggression dictating the match’s tempo from the outset. As the crowd fell into a sympathetic hush during the medical timeout, Li’s focus remained sharp, her victory underscoring the tournament’s unforgiving blend of physical demands and mental grit.
Raducanu’s start fades against Li’s surge
The former US Open champion began with fire, slamming a volley to break Li in the opening game and signal her intent to build momentum on these medium-paced hard courts. But Li countered swiftly, her crosscourt forehands slicing through Raducanu’s defenses in a one–two rhythm that forced errors from the Briton’s leaking forehand wing. Six straight games followed, the American’s aces punctuating the shift as the surface’s true bounce amplified her depth, leaving Raducanu scrambling with inside-out attempts that rarely found their mark.
By the set’s end, the psychological edge had tilted decisively, Li’s tactical patience exposing the toll of Raducanu’s demanding season filled with early exits and nagging issues. The Wuhan crowd, initially buzzing with anticipation for the young star’s resurgence, sensed the momentum drain, their murmurs blending with the court’s slick echoes under the evening lights.
Dizziness halts a mounting struggle
Into the second set, a double fault from Raducanu gifted Li a double break at 4-1, prompting the trainer’s intervention as signs of distress became evident. The dizziness that ended the match highlighted the human fragility amid the tour’s relentless schedule, Raducanu’s resolve crumbling not from strokes alone but from the cumulative weight of expectations and exertion. Li, showing empathy in her post-match reflections, advanced with poise, her No. 46 ranking poised for another climb against No. 9 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova next.
Elsewhere, Sofia Kenin clawed through a marathon against qualifier Anastasia Zakharova, saving two match points at 5-4 in the second set to secure a 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 escape. Her down-the-line backhands in those clutch baseline rallies kept the pressure on, the hard court’s rebound favoring her topspin variations as she reeled off the final four games from a break down in the decider. This grit positions the former Australian Open winner to face No. 16 seed Liudmila Samsonova, who earlier staved off four set points at 5-4 in the second to down lucky loser Emiliana Arango 6-1, 7-5.
Pressure moments define Wuhan’s early rounds
Samsonova’s deep crosscourt returns turned the tide in her match, her slice backhands disrupting Arango’s rhythm on the outdoor hard courts that reward endurance and adaptability. Kenin’s resilience in extended exchanges mirrors the tournament’s intensity, where every hold carries the season’s broader stakes. As Li prepares to challenge Alexandrova’s flat power with her own forehand depth, the bracket pulses with potential upsets.
For the latest developments, follow the Scores, Draws, and Order of play to track the evolving storylines. Wuhan’s lights illuminate not just the action but the drive that propels these athletes forward, promising more tales of tenacity in the rounds ahead.
