HOBART, Australia — In a match that spanned two days and tested her resilience, Emma Raducanu secured a crucial milestone on Wednesday, defeating Colombia's Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4 to claim her first victory of the 2024 season at the Hobart International. The win, delayed by persistent rain on Tuesday, marks a significant step forward for the 2021 US Open champion as she continues her comeback from multiple surgeries and builds momentum ahead of the Australian Open.
The contest began under ominous skies on Tuesday, with Raducanu displaying a sharpness and aggression that has been a focal point of her pre-season work. She broke Osorio’s serve early, racing to a 4-1 lead and showcasing a blend of powerful groundstrokes and deft touch at the net. However, with Raducanu leading 6-2, 3-1, the heavens opened, forcing a suspension of play for the day. The overnight delay presented a classic mental challenge, requiring the Briton to restart her engine and close out a match against a determined opponent with nothing to lose.
A Composed Finish After the Interruption
Returning to the court on Wednesday, Raducanu faced an immediate test of her concentration. Osorio, a gritty competitor known for her fighting spirit, broke Raducanu’s serve in the first game back, leveling the second set at 3-3. The momentum seemed to have shifted, but Raducanu responded emphatically. She broke back immediately, reasserting control with a series of deep returns and forehand winners. Speaking after the match, Raducanu highlighted the psychological hurdle of the restart: "Coming back after a rain delay is always tricky. You have to switch your mindset back on, and I'm glad I managed to regain focus quickly after that little blip."
The victory was built on several key improvements that have been the focus of Raducanu’s training block:
- Aggressive Baseline Play: She consistently took the ball early, directing traffic from the center of the court and pushing Osorio deep behind the baseline.
- Improved First Serve Percentage: While still an area for growth, her first serve was a reliable weapon in key moments, allowing her to start points on the front foot.
- Physical Resilience: Most notably, she moved freely and without apparent discomfort, a welcome sight after surgeries on both wrists and one ankle sidelined her for most of 2023.
This win is more than just a statistical notch; it represents a tangible reward for months of grueling rehabilitation. Raducanu admitted the long road back has been fraught with doubt, making this victory particularly sweet. "It's amazing to just be back playing. I'm just really happy to be on the court, pain-free and enjoying my tennis," she said, her relief palpable. "To get the first win of the season, it feels great. It's a testament to the hard work my team and I have put in during the off-season."
The Road Back: From Surgery to Hobart
Raducanu’s journey since her fairytale triumph in Flushing Meadows has been a rollercoaster of coaching changes, injury setbacks, and intense scrutiny. Her 2023 season was effectively ended last April after surgeries, leading to a ranking drop outside the top 250. The off-season was dedicated not just to physical recovery but to rebuilding her game from the ground up with a new coaching team, including renowned fitness trainer Jez Green. The Hobart International, a WTA 250 event, was strategically chosen as a competitive tune-up to shake off rust and accumulate match practice before the season's first Grand Slam.
Her performance against Osorio, ranked World No. 81, demonstrated a clear tactical plan. She targeted the Osorio backhand, used slice effectively to disrupt rhythm, and showed a willingness to come forward, winning 11 of 15 points at the net. This proactive approach is a departure from the more reactive style she was sometimes forced into during her injury-plagued 2023. Her next challenge will be even stiffer, as she faces second seed and World No. 33, Elise Mertens of Belgium, in the second round. Mertens is a consistent top-40 player and a former Australian Open doubles champion, offering a perfect benchmark for Raducanu’s current level.
What This Win Means for Melbourne
The Australian Open, which begins on January 14th, looms large. Raducanu enters using a protected ranking of No. 103, ensuring direct entry into the main draw and avoiding the perils of qualifying. The victory in Hobart serves multiple purposes for her Melbourne campaign:
- Confidence Boost: A first win alleviates pressure and proves her game is competitive at the tour level.
- Match Sharpness: Every minute on court, especially in a winning cause, helps refine timing and decision-making under pressure.
- Physical Proof of Concept: Successfully playing and recovering from a two-day match is the best possible test for her surgically-repaired wrists and ankle ahead of best-of-five-set tennis.
While expectations must be tempered—she is, after all, in the early stages of a comeback—the signs in Hobart are undeniably positive. The fluidity of her movement and the conviction in her shot-making suggest a player rediscovering her joy and belief. Tennis pundits have noted a more settled demeanor, perhaps a product of having a consistent training team and a clear, health-first approach to her schedule.
A Statement of Intent and Patience
Emma Raducanu’s first win of 2024 is a narrative shift. For months, the story has been about surgeries, setbacks, and uncertainty. Now, it is once again about tennis. The victory over Camila Osorio, navigated with maturity through a rain delay, signals that Raducanu is not just back on tour, but back with a plan and a renewed physical foundation. She acknowledged the long road ahead but embraced the process, stating, "I'm taking it step by step. I'm not getting ahead of myself. This is a good start, and I want to build on it."
As she prepares to face Elise Mertens, the tennis world will be watching closely. A deep run in Hobart would be a bonus, but the primary objective—proving her body can withstand the rigors of competition and that her game can threaten established players—has already been achieved. The win serves as a potent reminder of Raducanu’s talent and a promising first chapter in what she, and her fans, hope will be a defining comeback season. The path forward is about accumulation: accumulating matches, accumulating confidence, and, as she did in Hobart, accumulating wins.