Raducanu and Kerber were both competing as wildcards in Stuttgart after their rankings took a tumble following time on the sidelines. Raducanu ended her season last May to have three surgeries while the former world No. 1 took 18 months out after announcing her pregnancy in 2022.
The German had the home advantage but she was playing in her first clay-court match since May 2022 while Raducanu came to Stuttgart after getting two indoor clay wins at the BJK Cup. And the Brit got off to a fast start when she broke in the opening game.
Kerber responded with a break of her own but Raducanu immediately regained her advantage. The 2021 US Open winner saved a couple of break points before breaking the 36-year-old for a second time, storming through the opening set in 41 minutes as she hit just five unforced errors to Kerber’s 15.
The beginning of the second set followed the pattern of the first when the three-time Major champion was broken in the first game. Kerber needed 15 minutes and seven break points to get back on serve but her efforts were immediately wasted as the Brit broke to love.
Raducanu told the umpire that she wanted to see the physio at the next changeover but she didn’t appear to be struggling and managed to secure the double break before the trainer eventually took to the court. The world No. 303 was handed some tablets and asked if she wanted salt, indicating that she could be cramping.
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