'It's not easy playing at 11.30 pm' - Emma Raducanu battles jet lag to defeat Elise Mertens in Washington Open first round

Emma Raducanu kicked off her Washington Open campaign with a thrilling first-round win over Belgium's Elise Mertens. However, after the match, the British tennis star revealed that she had to fight off jet lag and even “lost some focus” in the second set.

In her first competitive game since an early Wimbledon exit, Raducanu got off to a flying start, winning five straight games to take the first set. However, the eighth-seeded Mertens staged a brilliant comeback to clinch the second set. In the final set, Raducanu broke early but could not capitalise on the 3-1 lead as Mertens broke back and saved two break points to level the scoreline 3-3.

The Briton then saved five break points of her own before breaking. But Mertens struck back in the next game as Raducanu served for the match. However, Raducanu moved to match point with a backhand volley and sealed the win 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.  

Also Check: WATCH: Iga Swiatek qualifies for round 3 after one-sided win over Diane Parry in Paris Olympics

I lost some focus in the second set: Raducanu

Following her win, Raducanu said she was battling a five-hour time difference as she travelled from the UK to the US capital. Admitting that she lost some focus in the second set, Raducanu backed herself to bounce back in the third.

“I was playing some pretty good tennis in patches throughout, especially in the first set and moments in the third set,” she said. “I lost some focus in the second. It’s not easy playing at 11.30. I got here Thursday night so I’m still jet lagged. I was telling myself, ‘I’m not leaving. This is not happening. You’re not losing this match’.”

Earlier this month, Raducanu crashed out of the Wimbledon Championship after losing to qualifier Lulu Sun in the fourth round. She was beaten in three sets 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 on Centre Court. The youngster opted out of the ongoing Paris Olympics as she did not want to play on clay court ahead of the hard court season.

Also Read: 'You guys are not fair to me'- Coco Gauff bashes officials after loss to Donna Vekic in round 3 of Paris Olympics