British tennis star Emma Raducanu has won her first match since April following a lengthy injury lay-off.
The 2021 US Open winner beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse in three sets in the first round of the ASB Classic in Auckland.
Raducanu, 21, who had slipped to 301st in the world rankings, survived a fightback from the Romanian qualifier to progress 6-3 4-6 7-5 in two hours and 27 minutes.
The former British number one played only nine matches in 2023, as she missed eight months of action following operations on both wrists and an ankle.
Raducanu will play second seed Elina Svitolina in the last 16 and said she was “grateful to be able to move my body and not be bedridden or in a wheelchair.
Emma Raducanu was made an MBE by King Charles III in November
“It’s pretty amazing to just be out here and playing. I’m really happy to be back on the tour and can’t wait to start this season and carry on hopefully injury-free and healthy.”
After Raducanu took the first set in just 37 minutes, Ruse – the world number 134 – fought back to win the second.
Raducanu, who reached a career-high 10th in the world rankings in July 2022, blew a 5-2 lead in the final set before coming through.
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Emma Raducanu won the US Open in 2021
She said: “Thank you to everyone for coming out and staying late and cold. I really appreciate the support throughout.
“It was a match with ups and downs and always difficult playing a friend in Gabi. I love being back in Auckland, I’m having a blast so far, so thank you and see you in the next round.”
Raducanu was due to have returned to action last month, before pulling out.
Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam winner, has also made a long-awaited return from injury, but, in his first match since January, he lost in the doubles at the Brisbane International, on Sunday.
