Radacanu completes her first win of the season after Rain delay

Emma Raducanu claimed her first win of the season in impressive fashion with a straight-sets victory over Camila Osorio at the Hobart International, overcoming a disrupted schedule caused by rain to book her place in the later rounds of the tournament.

The British number one had made a strong start to her opening-round match on Tuesday, taking the first set with confidence before a lengthy rain delay brought proceedings to a halt. At the time of the suspension, Raducanu found herself trailing the Colombian 4–2 in the second set, with momentum seemingly shifting away from her as conditions worsened and play was called off for the evening.

Returning to the court after the delay, the former US Open champion showed resilience and composure to quickly regain control. Raducanu broke back early in the second set and raised her level, using her depth and timing from the baseline to put Osorio under consistent pressure. Despite a late push from the world number 82 Raducanu held firm and forced a tie-break, where she dominated to seal a 6–3, 7–6 (7–2) victory.

The win marks an encouraging start to Raducanu’s 2026 campaign as she continues her build-up to the Australian Open. Seeded number one in Hobart, the 23-year-old was originally scheduled to face Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the second round. However, Frech was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury, giving Raducanu a day’s rest and a direct passage into the next round.

Raducanu will now face Australian wildcard Taylah Preston on Thursday, a match that is expected to provide another useful test against a young, aggressive opponent backed by a home crowd. The Briton will be keen to maintain her rhythm and match sharpness as she looks to build confidence ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year.

Having endured a stop-start period with injuries over recent seasons, Raducanu’s performance in Hobart offered signs of growing physical robustness and mental toughness. As preparations continue for Melbourne, she will be hoping to carry this momentum into the Australian Open, where she aims to progress beyond the third round for the first time in her career.

By Jack Burford