Emma Raducanu has spoken of her relief after ending her four-match losing streak against Maria Sakkari at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Sunday.
The British No 2 hadn't won a match since the second round of the Australian Open and faced a tricky test against Sakkari in Dubai.
But the 21-year-old claimed a commanding 6-4 6-2 win to progress to the second round.
The comprehensive victory, completed in just one hour and 20 minutes, marks a significant breakthrough for the 2021 US Open champion.
Emma Raducanu ended her losing streak
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Raducanu demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the match, twice breaking back against Sakkari's serve in crucial moments.
The victory marked a welcome turnaround following recent setbacks, which included first-round exits in Doha, Abu Dhabi and Singapore.
Those defeats had come against Ekaterina Alexandrova, Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, and Cristina Bucsa respectively.
The British star's performance showed a return to the form that has previously made her one of tennis's most promising talents.
Speaking after the match, Raducanu emphasised her focus on maintaining concentration throughout. "I just tried to stay really focussed on the point in front of me," she said.
Emma Raducanu faces Karolina Muchova in the next round
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"When I got broken twice early in the sets, I just regrouped really well and broke back both times.
"I'm just really proud of my performance. She's a top player, she's been as high as three in the world."
The victory maintained Raducanu's perfect record against Sakkari, having previously defeated the Greek player at Wimbledon's third round last year and in the 2021 US Open semi-finals.
The latter triumph came during Raducanu's historic Grand Slam victory in New York.
The British star now faces a challenging second-round match against 2023 French Open finalist Karolina Muchova.
"We play quite similar – she's really athletic," Raducanu said of Sakkari. "It's just a very difficult match every time we play."
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Emma Raducanu also beat Maria Sakkari on her way to winning the 2021 US Open
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Raducanu expressed enthusiasm for her Dubai debut, praising both the playing conditions and the local support. "The support has been great tonight," she remarked.
The British star showed particular appreciation for the tournament's playing surface. "I really like the surface; it's my first time spending a bit of time here and I've really enjoyed it."
