Emma Raducanu has been knocked out in the first round of the Singapore Open by the world No101 in a three-hour marathon featuring 17 breaks of serve.

The British No2, fresh from reaching the third round of the Australian Open — the year’s first grand-slam tournament — lost 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 to Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in a match that contained 32 break points.

Raducanu was playing in her first match since splitting with coach Nick Cavaday, who stepped down last week due to health issues. Instead, the 22-year-old had her mother Renee for company in the stands, as well as new fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura — but Raducanu still flagged as the finish line approached at the end of a brutal encounter.

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