Emma Raducanu achieved a hard-fought victory against Peyton Stearns in the first round of the Korea Open, winning 7-6 (4) 7-6 (5) after a grueling two hours and 43 minutes. This marks Raducanu's first win since late July, following her early exit from the US Open, where she expressed regret over her scheduling. The match featured 12 breaks of serve and was characterized by fluctuating momentum, with Raducanu initially leading 4-1 in the first set before facing a comeback from Stearns. Both players struggled with their serves, resulting in a high number of unforced errors. Raducanu will face eighth-seeded Yuan Yue in the next round and noted her satisfaction with handling the humid conditions during the match. She expressed pride in her performance, acknowledging the challenges posed by her opponent, who is ranked higher in the world standings.