Lucky Loser’s Confession After Crushing Raducanu’s Dubai Hopes
Emma Raducanu fights back from the brink—then collapses as Croatian qualifier pulls off “crazy” upset
February 16, 2026 | Updated 1 hour ago | 3 min read
Emma Raducanu’s rollercoaster season hit another devastating low Monday as the British No. 1 fell to a lucky loser who wasn’t even supposed to be in the draw.
Antonia Ruzic, ranked No. 67 and only added to the main draw hours before her first-round match, sent Raducanu crashing out 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 in a wild encounter that left both players in disbelief—for very different reasons.
Ruzic wasn’t even planning to stay in Dubai.
“We were going to stay here for two-three days,” the Croatian admitted after the biggest win of her career—her first over a top-30 opponent .
When several players withdrew through injury, illness, or schedule changes, alternates were called. Ruzic signed up, not expecting much.
“A lot of the girls were cancelling and a lot of them were not here to sign. I was like ‘OK, I’m going to sign and let’s see what happens’.”
What happened was a “crazy turnaround” and a spot in the second round .
Match Summary
| Set | Raducanu | Ruzic |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | 6 |
| 2nd | 7 | 5 |
| 3rd | 2 | 6 |
| Result | LOSS | WIN |
Duration: 2 hours, 14 minutes
Raducanu’s match followed a pattern becoming distressingly familiar.
| Phase | What Happened |
|---|---|
| First set | Broken twice, lost 6-1 in 30 minutes |
| Second set | Trailed 5-3, fought back to force decider |
| Third set | Won six straight games across sets, led 2-0 |
| Then… | Lost six straight games to lose match |
From 2-0 up in the decider to 6-2 down. The kind of collapse that lingers.
Raducanu called for medical attention during the match—just as she did last week in Doha, where she was forced to retire from her first-round match .
The 23-year-old has now required medical attention in three of her last four tournaments, raising fresh questions about her physical readiness for the tour’s demands .
The Bigger Picture
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Raducanu ranking | No. 25 |
| Ruzic ranking | No. 67 |
| Raducanu’s 2026 record | 6-4 |
| Tournaments with medical issues | 3 of last 4 |
The British No. 1 reached the Transylvania Open final earlier this month—her first final since the 2021 US Open . But that run now feels like a distant memory.
The Croatian was still processing her “crazy” win:
“Playing against Emma, of course, is a tough match. I got in on Monday. It’s crazy because…”
She didn’t need to finish the sentence. The result spoke for itself.
What’s Next for Raducanu
Another early exit. Another medical timeout. Another set of questions.
Raducanu showed fight, coming back from 5-3 down in the second, winning six straight games across sets. But tennis matches aren’t won in patches. They’re won across entire contests, and for the second week running, Raducanu couldn’t finish what she started.
For Ruzic, the dream continues. For Raducanu, it’s back to the practice court, and back to wondering when the physical setbacks will finally stop.