AN emotional Emma Raducanu returned to winning ways today in her first match for eight months after undergoing triple surgery.
The 21-year-old former US Open champion had not played since losing at the Stuttgart Open on April 18 last year, following operations on both her wrists and an ankle.
She had been scheduled to make her comeback in Macau last month but delayed her return until the ASB Classic in Auckland, for which she received a wildcard.
And taking on friend Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round, she edged a tight contest 6-3,4-6, 7-5, needing four match points to finally win.
Raducanu fought back the tears, recalling how her injuries had left her first bedridden and then wheelchair bound.
She said: "It was a match of ups and downs. It's always difficult playing a friend. It's also difficult after having such a long hiatus. I'm grateful to be healthy and able to move my body, not be bedridden or in a wheelchair. It's amazing to be out here and playing. I'm just really happy to be back on the tour.
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