Another first round exit for Raducanu in the Gulf

British No. 1 Emma Raducanu was knocked out of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in a first round  shock defeat to Antonia Ruzic.

She came back from a set and a break down against her Croatian opponent to force a decider but the Croatian ran out the 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 winner.

Ranked 67th in the world and one of seven lucky losers from qualifying to fill the main draw following the withdrawal of several players through injury, illness or a schedule change.

Raducanu was originally  due to meet  Elisabetta Cocciaretto but she ruled herself out a with a thigh problem.

Ruzic won the first set in 30 minutes having twice broken Raducanu.

The world No. 25 then sought medical attention, just as she did in last week’s Qatar Open when she had to retire from her first-round match.

Despite falling 5-3 down after being broken again in the second set, Raducanu fought back to claim two breaks and make it one set all.

The Briton won six consecutive games at the end of the second set and start of the third to go 2-0 up in the decider, but faded rapidly and Ruzic won the next six to clinch victory.