Emma Raducanu suffered a difficult setback in her attempts to rebuild her form and rhythm during her comeback from injury, crashing out in the first round of the Qatar Open with a 6-0, 7-6 (6) loss to Anhelina Kalinina, the world No 30.
Raducanu, who is ranked No 262, had arrived in Doha for the second stop of the new, extended Middle Eastern swing after a largely positive showing last week in Abu Dhabi. She reached the second round with one of her best wins since the start of 2023, a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Marie Bouzkova, the No 36. However, she was then predictably outclassed by Ons Jabeur, ranked No 6, in the second round.
