Emma Raducanu may not have been smiling at the end of her match against Ons Jabeur on Wednesday but she certainly was before it began.<br /><br />Raducanu's bid to reach the last eight of the Abu Dhabi Open was ended in straight sets by the world No.<br /><br />It was a fairly routine win for Jabeur and perhaps the most memorable moment of the night came before a shot had even been played. <br /><br />As the players met at the net Raducanu could be seen pointing and getting herself into a fit of the giggles.<br /><br />The umpire then told viewers 'We have a cat on the court' before the television cameras cut to a line judge removing the feline. <br /><br />Raducanu briefly pushed three-time grand slam finalist Jabeur in a close opening set.<br /><br />The 2021 US Open champion dropped serve in the first game of the match and was soon a double breakdown at 5-1.<br /><br />But she gradually began to remind everyone of just how cleanly she strikes the ball at her best.<br /><br />She saved three set points before breaking Jabeur's serve to trail 5-3, and then a gritty hold brought her to within one game.<br /><br />However, Jabeur comprehensively held serve in the next to take the first set in 50 minutes.<br /><br />The second seed converted a third break point to take the initiative at the start of the second set.<br /><br />This time Raducanu, who last reached a quarter-final in September 2022, had no answer to the flurry of winners – Jabeur hit 35 in all – as she bowed out.<br /><br />'It was a tough match,' said Raducanu. 'Ons is a difficult opponent so credit to her, she played well and it's just a match that I need to forget about.<br /><br />'She's a great opponent, she has amazing hand skills, makes life hard for you on the court and especially with the heavy balls. Her defensive skills are great and I think that's something I can improve on too.'<br /><br />Raducanu added that she hopes to play at the Qatar Open in Doha next week.<br /><br />Jabeur, 29, said in her on-court interview. 'She didn't make it easy for me.<br /><br />'Emma is such an amazing player, I wish her all the best because I know she can play much better. I am a big fan of hers.<br /><br />'Emma had an amazing experience at the US Open and everybody followed her. She's had an amazing career.<br /><br />'Everyone has a different story, we struggle a lot, and we go through a lot of things. But a lot of amazing women play on the tour.'
