Emma Raducanu’s Hobart International First Round match against Camila Osorio has been suspended due to rain.
Raducanu, ranked 29th in the world currently, is top seed in the Hobart International, and is playing in preparation for the upcoming Australian Open, which begins on Sunday 18th January.
The Brit was leading against Osorio 6-3, 2-4, before multiple stoppages due to rain, eventually led to the first-round tie being suspended.
The rain started disrupting play around 9:05 GMT, with the players coming back out onto court around 9:51, with Raducanu 15-30 down.
After only 12 minutes back on court, the players were taken off court again, the rain casuing further disruption in Raducanu’s warm up for the Australian Open.
Play was eventually suspended at 9:30pm local time, with the crowds flooding to the exits, and the rain continuing to flood down.
Raducanu will return tomorrow to potentially book her place in round two of the Hobart International.
Looking ahead to the Australian open, Raducanu will be hoping for a longer run in the tournament compared to last year, being knocked out by World number two at the time, Iga Światek, 6-1, 6-0, in the third round.
The Brit has never fared well on Australian soil, and will be looking to build on a potential win in the Hobart International, to boost her confidence and build momentum ahead of the AO.
Raducanu will be coming up against the best of the best at this Grand Slam, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Śwaitek the favourites, being ranked first and second in the world.
The former British Number One last memorable triumph was winning the US Open in 2021, at the age of just 18. She defeated 19 year old Canadian, Leylah Fernandez, 6-4, 6-3.
This was the first time in the Open Era, featuring two unseeded players in the final of a competition as well as the first final featuring two teens, in more than two decades.
The first challenge for Raducanu is to come through the Hobart International injury free, to make sure she’s fit and ready, to compete in one of the biggest Tennis events on the sporting calendar.
By Jacob Deighton
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