Emma Raducanu makes unwanted career history after Qatar Open first round exit

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Emma Raducanu has continued her disappointing start to the 2025 season with a first round exit at the Qatar Open.

Raducanu is taking things week by week, having endured a nightmare time of late through injury and a lack of form.

British number two Raducanu reunited with Roman Kelecic for the Abu Dhabi Open, with the latter having coached the former at junior level.

But Raducanu lost her opener to Marketa Vondrousova in Abu Dhabi, before suffering the same outcome at the Qatar Open in Doha.

That came after a first round exit at the hands of Cristina Bucsa at the Singapore Tennis Open, right after a third round loss at the Australian Open.

Emma Raducanu suffers fourth consecutive career loss at Qatar Open

Raducanu beat Ekaterina Alexandrova in Melbourne before eventually falling to Iga Swiatek, with that duo then reuniting at this week’s Qatar Open.

And Alexandrova enacted her revenge, condemning Raducanu to an early exit with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 victory.

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And it was a damaging result in more ways than one, with Raducanu suffering a fourth consecutive defeat for the first time in her career, as per BBC Sport.

Emma Raducanu doesn’t need coaching distractions after injury nightmares

The Briton received a wildcard entry into the first WTA 1000 tournament of the season, but failed to make the most of the opportunity.

Hugely positive signs were on display at the Australian Open, where she picked up straight set wins over 26th seed Alexandrova and Amanda Anisimova.

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But second seed Swiatek proved too difficult to overcome, with the five-time Grand Slam champion easing to a 6-1, 6-0 win.

Raducanu can be very proud of those efforts, with only eventual champion Madison Keys able to stop the Pole in Melbourne.

Moreover, the British number two is still on somewhat of a comeback trail, having missed a large chunk of the 2023 season with injury.

Other unwanted distractions have come in the form of coaching changes, with Nick Cavaday recently stepping back from his duties, while strength and conditioning expert Yutaka Nakamura was recently appointed.

Raducanu is, therefore, without a permanent coach at this moment in time, although her mentor Jane O’Donoghue was present in Doha to support the 22-year-old.