British tennis star Emma Raducanu broke down in tears during her 6-3 6-4 win over Jaqueline Cristian at the Korea Open on Wednesday.
The exact reason for Raducanu’s emotional outburst during the first-round victory is currently unknown – but it came during a moment in a match when the British No.1 had been struggling to hit her best levels.
Raducanu, who famously won the 2021 US Open, was in tears after she had netted a forehand and faced two break points at 3-3 in the first set.
The 22-year-old – ranked world No.33 – had her match against Romanian opponent Cristian, ranked world No.41, delayed because of rain.
Speaking after her victory, Raducanu, who withdrew from Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup Final team to play in Seoul, said: ‘It hasn’t been easy.
‘I feel like I’ve played this match the last three days. To have pulled through after waiting, I’m super pleased at how I came through.
‘Jaqueline is a really tough opponent and has had great results recently. [They were] tough conditions, very slow, long rallies and long points, so happy to have got through.’
Raducanu, who was targeted by a stalker earlier this year, still hasn’t won a trophy anywhere on the WTA Tour since her Grand Slam triumph at the US Open as a qualifier over four years ago.
Last month, Raducanu hired Francisco Roig – who used to work with tennis legend Rafael Nadal – as her new full-time coach.
Raducanu is currently playing in her first tournament since her third-round exit to Elena Rybakina at the 2025 US Open.
Raducanu also played in the star-studded US Open mixed doubles with Carlos Alcaraz this year.
There had been unfounded rumours that the pair were in a secret romantic relationship – but those have been dismissed with Alcaraz reportedly dating model Brooks Nader.
Raducanu secured a new brand deal earlier this month with personal care brand Wild.
Wild is a British personal care brand, selling refillable deodorants and other products such as manuka honey lip balms made from natural ingredients.
‘For me, the definition of ‘champion’ isn’t just about results on the court – it’s about using my platform to make a difference,’ Raducanu said.
‘I’m proud to partner with Wild on [the] champions of change [initiative] and represent their commitment to sustainability and innovation.’
In April, it was reported that Raducanu had been ‘axed’ from her £3m-a-year Vodafone partnership.
She still has a number of deals with other brands including Nike, Dior, Tiffany & Co, British Airways, Evian, HSBC and Porsche.