Emma Raducanu lacks momentum and energy in Australian Open exit to Anastasia Potapova | Tennis News
Emma Raducanu’s Australian Open ended in the second round with an error-filled loss to Anastasia Potapova.
The British No 1 was hoping to face World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka again but she faded from a promising spot and lost 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
Having arrived in Melbourne short of games and preparations after suffering a foot injury during pre-season, it should come as no surprise that Raducanu was below his best here.
He was not helped by the windy conditions that highlighted the mistakes, he must now look to put the work in the court of the practices he has lost.
The two had never played a competitive match before but Raducanu grew up knowing the talent of Potapova, the 24-year-old who was ahead of her age.
Potapova became the latest player to leave Russia at the end of last season, now playing under the flag of her native Austria.
He dropped from 21st in the list outside the top 50, and at first it was Raducanu at the top, although the mistakes far outweighed the winners for both players in difficult situations.
It took six games for either player to get a hold, and Raducanu appeared to be in control at 5-3 up but was unable to win the set, Potapova raising her level and serving a strong break.
Raducanu appeared to be in disbelief in his game and the shouts of ‘Raddo’ from his biggest Australian fan James Bray, who has received a lot of media attention after the former US Open champion invited him to all his matches, were getting less and less.
His head was hanging down when he fell in double serve to start the second set and, although he gave himself hope of getting one break quickly, he was double-crossed and fell behind 4-1.
The last return to the net took Raducanu unforced errors up to 28, he left. Cameron Norrie as the only British singles player left with Arthur Fery going down 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 6-3 Thomas Martin Etcheverry.
Sabalenka, Gauff and Mboko entered the third round
1 world Aryna Sabalenka he came from a tough opening match to beat China’s Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena and advance to the third round.
Sabalenka, who was champion in 2023 and 2024, won 5-0, and Bai held serve and broke the Belarusian.
The Chinese No 702 began to frustrate her opponent, claiming the third game in a row as Sabalenka grew increasingly frustrated before finally closing out the set.
However, the 27-year-old settled at the start of the second set and showed the gap in class between the two to win another four straight games before confirming his progression to the next round.
“A tricky opponent, he really got into the first set and for a moment I felt: what am I going to do? He hits it,” Sabalenka said.
“I’m very happy that I was able to close out that set, I think it gave me more confidence that I’m there, that my game is there. Focus step by step.
“There is always a small gap in which I have to improve but I am happy that in that match I did not lose and I was focused and I was trying to tell myself that it will come back,” Sabalenka added.
“You’re good, keep fighting, keep trying and I’m glad I did well.”
Third generation Coco Gauff beat Olga Danilovic of Serbia 6-2 6-2 to advance to the third round.
Danilovic knocked out Venus Williams in the first round but her chances of beating the American’s other Grand Slam champion looked slim after 22 minutes when she found herself 5-0 up before a double fault on set point gave Gauff the lead.
There was no respite in the second set as Gauff reeled off another early break to go up 3-0, with Danilovic finding no answer to his forehands and forehands.
Gauff then converted a break point to seal the match and book a third round meeting with his partner Hailey Baptiste.
Canadian youth Victoria Mboko beat American Caty McNally 6-4 6-3 to advance. Trailing 3-0 in the second game, Mboko, 19, won six games in a row to complete the comeback.
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