Emma Raducanu could next look to play at the Qatar Open, live on Sky Sports Tennis from February 9-15, after a third early tournament exit in Abu Dhabi. 

The 22-year-old was given a wild-card entry to the event in Doha last year, and may well be handed the same this time around.

Raducanu suffered a first-round exit at the Abu Dhabi Open in a straight-sets defeat to Marketa Vondrousova.

Raducanu will next feature in her fourth tournament of the year after first-round losses to Vondrousova and world No 101 Cristina Bucsa at the Singapore Open.

In January, Raducanu reached the third round of the Australian Open before a bruising 6-1 6-0 defeat to world No 2 Iga Swiatek.

At the Abu Dhabi Open, Raducanu suffered a disappointing defeat as she was beaten 6-3 6-4 by fellow wild-card Vondrousova.

Raducanu - who complained of a neck injury during the contest - started positively up against 2023 Wimbledon champion Vondrousova, breaking her opponent to move 3-1 ahead.

She then lost the next five games on the bounce, however, being broken three times to lose the first set.

The second set proved tighter as Raducanu dug in to remain on serve through the first six games to 3-3, before a really tight game in which Raducanu repeatedly forced deuce was eventually secured by Vondrousova for 4-3 - the Czech's serve getting her out of trouble.

From a position of 30-0 ahead, Raducanu then lost four straight points on serve to surrender a critical break.

Serving for the match, a nervy Vondrousova fell 15-40 down, allowing Raducanu to break straight back and continue the clash.

The Czech forced three match points on the next Raducanu service game, though, clinching the third of those to seal victory.

Sky Sports' Laura Robson believes "it's all positive" in terms of Raducanu's start to the year and her eagerness to play on tour.

"I love the fact that she went to Singapore in the first place, to get some more matches in," Robson said at the launch of Sky Sports' tennis coverage of the ATP and WTA Tours and US Open in 2025.

"Obviously that didn't go as well as she'd have hoped, but then to play the week after is exactly what she's been trying to do for the last year.

"It's a great decision and hopefully she'll be able to build on that - and by the time [WTA 1000 events] Indian Wells and Miami come around [in March], she's got a good base to work with.

"Even in Australia, you could tell she was on the right path and starting to play some good tennis, but just wasn't quite match sharp in the key moments."

As for Raducanu's search for a new coach, after Nick Cavaday ended their partnership because of health issues in January, Robson added: "I don't think she's going to rush into it. And I don't think you want her to rush into it.

"It has got to be the right person because I know if she goes for someone and then ends up changing them again quickly, [to reporters] you'd all go nuts.

"It's more important that she finds the right fit for her."

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