- Emma Raducanu defeated Camila Osorio 6-3 in the Hobart International first round.
- Raducanu was the top seed and is using Hobart as her final event before the Australian Open.
- Osorio battled a persistent cough during the match but stayed competitive.
Raducanu wins opening match in Hobart
Emma Raducanu beat Camila Osorio 6-3 in the first round of the Hobart International, taking the opening set and closing out a straight-sets victory as she prepares for the Australian Open. The win gives the British top seed a confidence-boosting finish to her warm-up week.
Match snapshot: tight opening, Raducanu pulls clear
The match began with several breaks of serve before Raducanu settled and produced the stronger tennis to take the opening set. Raducanu recovered from pressure moments — including saving break points — with powerful forehands and timely serving. Osorio, ranked world number 82, kept fighting despite coughing between points and at changeovers, and she produced some standout winners, including a whipped forehand and an ace to save set points.
Former British player Naomi Cavaday, contributing commentary, noted that while Osorio stayed competitive, Raducanu looked the more assured player at key moments.
What stood out
- Raducanu showed improved consistency on return games, converting opportunities to break.
- Osorio’s persistent cough was a visible factor but did not stop her from taking risks and creating chances.
- After a scrappy start with multiple service breaks, Raducanu found rhythm and closed out the set 6-3.
Context: Final tune-up before the Australian Open
Hobart serves as Raducanu’s final tournament before the Australian Open, which begins on Sunday, 18 January. The British number one had earlier in the season lost to Maria Sakkari in her opening match, and this win will be seen as vital match practice ahead of the Melbourne major.
Live reporting for the match was provided by Harry Poole and Adwaidh Rajan. The coverage described several key moments from the first set: Osorio saving match points with an ace, Raducanu saving break points with aggressive winners, and both players trading momentum in windy conditions.
Looking ahead
Raducanu’s victory in Hobart gives her match play and a boost of form heading into the Australian Open. For Osorio, the takeaway will be a show of resilience despite illness; she remained competitive and produced high-quality shots that troubled Raducanu.
Short, sharp wins in warm-up events can settle nerves before a slam week. Raducanu will now turn attention to Melbourne, while Hobart continues to serve as an important stop for players sharpening form and fitness ahead of the Grand Slam season.
Image Referance: https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/live/c0erqdqprd4t
