{"id":1773862,"date":"2026-02-16T10:45:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T07:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1773862"},"modified":"2026-02-16T10:45:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T07:45:11","slug":"why-emma-raducanu-has-a-new-opponent-at-the-dubai-tennis-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1773862","title":{"rendered":"Why Emma Raducanu has a new opponent at the Dubai Tennis Championships"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Why Emma Raducanu has a new opponent at the Dubai Tennis Championships<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/oli-dickson-jefford\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Oli Dickson Jefford                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"16 Feb 2026 10:45 AM\" data-ps-date=\"16 Feb 2026 10:45 AM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1771238711\"><br \/>\n                            16 Feb 2026 10:45 AM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/why-emma-raducanu-has-new-opponent-dubai-tennis-championships\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to facebook\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fwhy-emma-raducanu-has-new-opponent-dubai-tennis-championships\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to twitter\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fwhy-emma-raducanu-has-new-opponent-dubai-tennis-championships\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to linkedin\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/\/send\/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fwhy-emma-raducanu-has-new-opponent-dubai-tennis-championships\" aria-label=\"Share to whatsapp\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fwhy-emma-raducanu-has-new-opponent-dubai-tennis-championships\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a class=\"!text-share-icon hover:!text-share-icon-active flex items-center justify-center\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" aria-label=\"Follow Tennis365 on Google Search\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Why Emma Raducanu has a new opponent at the Dubai Tennis Championships\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Emma-Raducanu-in-action-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Emma Raducanu in action\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Emma Raducanu during her match                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Emma Raducanu heads into the Dubai Tennis Championships looking to return to winning ways, after a disappointing opening-round retirement in Doha.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/emma-raducanu-forced-to-retire-qatar-open-camila-osorio\">The Brit was forced to retire early in the third set of her opening match against Camila Osorio<\/a>, though will hopefully be well-rested for her match in Dubai.<\/p>\n<p>However, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/emma-raducanu\">Raducanu<\/a> has been handed an unexpected change of opponent just hours before she takes to court.<\/p>\n<h2>Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/coco-gauff-responds-calls-iga-swiatek-aryna-sabalenka-punished-skipping-event\">Coco Gauff responds to calls for Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka to be \u2018punished\u2019 after skipping event<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/dubai-tournament-director-harsher-punishment-late-sabalenka-swiatek-withdrawals\">Dubai tournament director calls for \u2018harsher punishment\u2019 after late Sabalenka &amp; Swiatek withdrawals<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Who was Raducanu meant to face?<\/h2>\n<p>Raducanu\u2019s campaign was meant to start against Elisabetta Cocciaretto, who came into Dubai fresh off a career-best run to the quarter-finals of the Doha Open.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/worrying-coco-gauff-stat-revealed-nightmare-qatar-open-streak-latest-defeat\">Cocciaretto upset Coco Gauff during her run in Doha<\/a> and continued her momentum in Dubai qualifying, defeating both Donna Vekic and Anastasia Zakharova in three sets to reach the main draw.<\/p>\n<p>However, her Doha exploits \u2014 coupled with two lengthy matches in Dubai qualifying \u2014 appear to have left the Italian worn out physically, and she has now withdrawn from her match against Raducanu due to a left thigh injury.<\/p>\n<p>Cocciaretto is the latest in a long line of players to withdraw, with seven lucky losers currently set to compete in the main draw as things stand.<\/p>\n<h2>Who does Raducanu face now?<\/h2>\n<p>Cocciaretto\u2019s withdrawal means that Raducanu has faced a late change of opponent, with the world No 25 now facing Antonia Ruzic in Dubai.<\/p>\n<p>Croatian star Ruzic is one of the seven lucky losers to enter the draw in Dubai, having initially lost to Rebecca Sramkova in the opening round of qualifying at the WTA 1000 event.<\/p>\n<p>The world No 67 was a semi-finalist at the Hobart International back in January, beating Emiliana Arango, Solana Sierra, and Olga Danilovic before a loss to eventual champion Cocciaretto in the semi-final.<\/p>\n<p>However, the 23-year-old has not won a match this year outside of her Hobart run, and is currently on a five-match losing streak, spanning from her Hobart semi-final to her Dubai qualifying loss.<\/p>\n<p>Most notably, the Croatian was beaten in the opening round of the Australian Open by Naomi Osaka \u2014 though she did push the Japanese in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 loss to the former world No 1.<\/p>\n<p>This will be the first meeting between Raducanu and Ruzic.<\/p>\n<h2>Has Raducanu been presented with a further opportunity?<\/h2>\n<p>With Cocciaretto having been in impressive form this year, Raducanu has arguably been handed a more favourable draw on paper.<\/p>\n<p>And, her draw has potentially opened up further after round one.<\/p>\n<p>Initially, Raducanu was likely to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/karolina-muchova-hails-victoria-mboko-incredible-week-qatar-open-run\">face 15th seed and new Qatar Open champion Karolina Muchova<\/a> in round two, in a rematch from this tournament twelve months ago.<\/p>\n<p>However, Muchova has now pulled out following her Doha exploits.<\/p>\n<p>Should Raducanu win, she will now face one of Zakharova or Moyuka Uchijima in the second round, before a potential third round versus top seed Elena Rybakina.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read Next<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/wta-tour\/wta-rankings-rybakina-poised-overtake-swiatek-mboko-makes-top-10-debut-muchova-8\">WTA Rankings: Rybakina poised to overtake Swiatek as Mboko makes top-10 debut, Muchova +8<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why Emma Raducanu has a new opponent at the Dubai Tennis Championships Oli Dickson Jefford 16 Feb 2026 10:45 AM Emma Raducanu during her match Emma Raducanu heads into the Dubai Tennis Championships looking to return to winning ways, after a disappointing opening-round retirement in Doha. The Brit was forced to retire early in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1773862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1773862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1773862"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1773862\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1773862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1773862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1773862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}