After a brief pause due to illness, Emma Raducanu is set to return to the court this week, participating in the Dubai Open Championships. This marks her second attempt at the WTA 1000 tournament, where she progressed to the second round last year.
First Challenge: Elisabetta Cocciaretto
In the Round of 64, Raducanu will face off against Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Cocciaretto earned her spot in the main draw by securing victories over both Anastasia Zakharova and Donna Vekic during the qualifiers.
The 25-year-old Italian is currently ranked 56th in the world, which places her 31 spots below Raducanu. Throughout her career, Cocciaretto has peaked at No. 29 in the rankings as of August 2023. She has clinched two titles: the 2023 Ladies Open Lausanne and the 2026 Hobart International.
Recently, Cocciaretto gained attention for her impressive upset against Coco Gauff in Doha, a match she entered as a lucky loser. She stunned Gauff, winning decisively with a score of 6-4, 6-2, citing the Winter Olympics in her home country as a source of motivation. “I think this week it’s a bit different for us in Italy,” she remarked. “Now I’m more focused on the Winter Olympics than for the tournament. Maybe cheering for the Italian athletes is the key, that’s why I’m playing better maybe!”
In major tournaments, Cocciaretto’s best results include reaching the fourth round at the French Open, the third round at Wimbledon, and the second round at both the Australian Open and the US Open. Like Raducanu, she also competed in Dubai last year but was eliminated in the second round by none other than Gauff.
Head-to-Head: A New Encounter
This upcoming match is particularly interesting because Raducanu and Cocciaretto have never faced each other before. As Raducanu continues to build her portfolio of opponents, this will be yet another addition in what is already a diverse record. Since turning pro in 2018, Raducanu has challenged 132 different players in the ITF and WTA Tours.
As the Dubai Open approaches, both players will be looking to make an impact. For Raducanu, this match could signify the beginning of a new momentum after her hiatus, while Cocciaretto aims to build on her recent successes and generate further buzz in the tournament.
Stay tuned for updates on this matchup and follow Tennis365 for reliable coverage and analysis of all the latest happenings in the world of tennis.
