Emma Raducanu’s return to the WTA Tour at the 2026 Hobart International has proven to be anything but straightforward, as the British star’s opening match against Camila Osorio was dramatically suspended overnight due to relentless rain delays in Tasmania. Heading into this much-anticipated tournament as the top seed and with the Australian Open looming just days away, Raducanu’s quest for a confidence-boosting run was already complicated by swirling winds and recent injury setbacks. Now, the weather has added another twist to her journey.
On January 13, 2026, Raducanu took to the court at the Domain Tennis Centre in Hobart, eager to shake off the rust from a disrupted preseason. After a challenging 2025 season marked by injuries and uneven results, the 2021 US Open champion was candid about her late start to preparations. “So far, I’ve been practising pretty well. I started my preseason pretty late, so for me it’s all about sharpening up and tuning up as much as I can. I hope this week can be a good one for that,” Raducanu told Tennis Australia before the tournament.
Her first-round opponent, Colombia’s Camila Osorio, was no pushover. Ranked 82nd in the world, Osorio came out swinging in blustery conditions, and the match quickly became a test of adaptability as much as skill. The wind in Hobart, notorious among players, was a topic of conversation throughout the tournament. “The wind is quite strong here, so getting used to that is a big thing,” Raducanu said. “It’s a lot of adapting and improvising. You probably have to accept that you’re not going to feel like you’re hitting the ball amazingly all the time. It’s all part of the skill set you need to play in all types of conditions. It’ll be a good test and challenge.”
Despite the challenging elements, Raducanu started the match with intent, showcasing a new-look forehand and breaking Osorio early to take the first set 6-3. But as the second set unfolded, Osorio found her rhythm, unleashing a string of winners that put Raducanu on the defensive. The Colombian, despite punctuating breaks with persistent coughs, surged ahead 4-2 in the second set when yet another rain delay halted play. The British No 1, forced to huddle under towels to stay warm, faced the unenviable task of maintaining focus and physical readiness through four separate stoppages.
“I’m really grateful to be here in Hobart and to see Tasmania. I’m just happy to be here,” Raducanu reflected before the match. “It’s somewhere I didn’t think I’d get the opportunity to go if it wasn’t for tennis, so I’m really happy that it has brought me here.” But instead of a smooth return to singles action, she found herself spending more time courtside than on the baseline, as the weather refused to cooperate.
The stop-start nature of the match did neither player any favors. Raducanu, who had spent over two months in the gym during her off-season due to a nagging foot injury, was looking for valuable match play ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year. “It’s been a good two and a bit months where I didn’t play,” she admitted. “It’s been difficult to kind of increase the load and add the unpredictability of the tennis. I know now I just need to get my head down, keep working.”
As the match resumed after each delay, both players struggled to find rhythm. The swirling wind made serving a challenge, and the cold, damp conditions increased the risk of injury. Osorio, undeterred by her own physical discomfort, managed to pressure Raducanu’s serve and force errors, particularly in the second set. Yet Raducanu showed flashes of aggression, breaking back at love at one point and demonstrating the power on her improved forehand.
The match statistics told the story of a contest in flux. Raducanu took the first set but trailed in the second when play was finally suspended for the night. The score stood at 6-3, 2-4 in Raducanu’s favor, but with momentum shifting and conditions unpredictable, the outcome remained very much in the balance. For both players, the overnight break offered a chance to regroup, but also posed the risk of losing whatever rhythm they had managed to build.
The Hobart International itself has been a showcase for several star names this year. Alongside Raducanu, Venus Williams was a headline act, returning to Tasmania with the benefit of a wild card. Williams, always a fan of the fresh air and natural setting, had spoken about embracing the infamous Hobart wind. “The wind does blow in Hobart, which is one of the things you’re going to have to deal with if you play here,” Williams said on Instagram. “I always hit in the morning exclusively. Usually, I’m here before they even open the gates. I’m usually hitting from 8 a.m., but today I tried something different because usually in the morning it’s not so windy, and the wind usually picks up in the afternoon.”
Williams’ campaign, however, ended in the first round at the hands of sixth seed Tatjana Maria, who dispatched the American veteran in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. Other notable results from the opening days included victories for Peyton Stearns over Barbora Krejcikova, Xinyu Wang over Talia Gibson, and Magdalena Frech over Elsa Jacquemot. The unpredictable weather has been a constant subplot, challenging even the most experienced players and adding an extra layer of drama to the tournament.
For Raducanu, the suspended match against Osorio is another hurdle in a season she hopes will mark her return to the top of the women’s game. With the Australian Open rapidly approaching, every moment on court is precious. Yet, as she waits to resume her rain-interrupted opener, the British star must once again demonstrate the adaptability and mental resilience that carried her to Grand Slam glory in the past.
As action at the Hobart International continues, all eyes will remain fixed on Raducanu and Osorio as they prepare to finish what has already been a stop-start, weather-plagued battle. Whether the top seed can find her footing and advance in Tasmania remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: in Hobart, nothing comes easy—not even the weather.
