Raducanu v Cristian live: Korea Open match cancelled due to rain in Seoul
Raducanu heads to Seoul after opting to skip the Billie Jean King Cup Finals but will have to wait until Wednesday for her first match in Seoul
Emma Raducanu’s first round match against Jaqueline Cristian at the Korea Open has been suspended until Wednesday due to rain in Seoul.
Raducanu and Cristian had been scheduled to play on Tuesday evening but heavy rain has forced the remainder of the day’s play to be pushed back until tomorrow.
Raducanu has opted to skip Great Britain’s involvement in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals this week in order to play in the WTA 500 event in Seoul, with the British No 1 determined to improve her ranking over the remainder of the season.
After a bruising third-round defeat to Elena Rybakina at the US Open, Raducanu is looking to close the gap on the best players in the world and heads to Asia hoping to build on her positive results during the north American hard-court swing.
Raducanu is seeded eighth in Seoul and would play former Wimbledon champion and recent US Open quarter-finalist Barbora Krejcikova if she reaches the second round. Top seed and World No 2 Iga Swiatek is also in her quarter of the draw.
Follow latest updates from the Korea Open below:
Emma Raducanu’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals decision places spotlight on season goal
It is in the spirit of the Billie Jean King Cup that the focus should be on the collective, rather than the individual.
But as the eight-team Finals begins in Shenzhen, China, there will be particular attention on Emma Raducanu’s decision to withdraw from Great Britain’s squad in order to play in the Korea Open.
Emma Raducanu’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals decision places spotlight on season goal
Raducanu v Cristian cancelled due to rain
That’s it, no more play today in Seoul for this WTA 500.
Disappointment for Raducanu, or perhaps relief, it was grim out there.
All the remaining Tuesday matches will take place tomorrow, including:
- Diana Shnaider vs Caty McNally 2-6, 6-2
- Anastasia Zakharova vs Sorana Cirstea
- Jaqueline Cristian vs Emma Raducanu
- Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Dayeon Back
- Suzan Lamens vs Tatjana Maria
Korea Open faces scheduling problem after rain delays
The rain is forcing a scheduling problem for the Korea Open moving into tomorrow.
With Shnaider v McNally to finish soon, then Lamens v Maria on the Grand Stand.
While Raducanu v Cristian on Centre Court with Haddad Maia v Back to follow. Tomorrow’s schedule could be packed.
More rain in Seoul delays Raducanu v Cristian further
The courts were almost dry and now it’s raining again in Seoul.
So there will be no play for another hour, so expect a decision then over the potential for any more play tonight.
Caty McNally v Diana Shnaider (6-2, 2-6) was also suspended, with the match level at one set apiece.
More rain forecast in Seoul this evening
The forecast in Seoul is not looking great, it’s currently 7:30pm local time.
AccuWeather is predicting a 73 percent chance of rain from 8pm, too.
And 49 percent chance of rain from 9pm.
Raducanu and Roig take in Swiatek practice session
Emma Raducanu is building on her new coaching set-up alongside Francisco Roig.
The British No1 and coach were spotted observing Iga Swiatek’s training session in Seoul on Sunday.
It will be a revealing couple of weeks as the pair develop a connection through to the end of the year.
Raducanu v Cristian not before 11:45am
An announcement in Seoul confirms Raducanu v Cristian will start not before 7:45pm local time, so 11:45am UK.
Rain delay continues
A team of tournament staff armed with pink towels are on court in Seoul., attempting to dry the surface.
Start of play has been pushed back to 11am BST for now - but that may be optimistic.
The rain has arrived in Seoul
The start of today’s action was delayed by rain and some spots on the court suggests the wet weather has returned in Seoul.
That could delay the start of Raducanu’s match by a little while.
GAME, SET AND MATCH!
Krejcikova wraps up a 6-1 6-2 win over the qualifier Tatiana Prozorova, with the Czech cruising through to the second round.
Krejcikova will play the winner of Emma Raducanu’s match against Jaqueline Cristian, which will be up next.
It’s only Krejcikova’s 13th win of the season after a difficult start to the year - due to injuries and fitness. But she is coming into form.
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