Out-of-sorts Raducanu out in Australian Open second round

Emma Raducanu was denied a meeting with world number one Aryna Sabalenka after suffering a second-round defeat by Austria’s Anastasia Potapova in the Australian Open.

Raducanu, seeded 28th, lost 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 against 55th-ranked Potapova.

The British number one had a dull mood and movement, with errors coming from every angle of her game.

The 23-year-old struggled to find certainty in the forehand of the recent tweaks, and her discomfort with a wild drive volley in the first set and a double fault to hand over a break for 4-1 in the second added even more.

In the first round of Melbourne, she improved over Mananchaya Sawangkaew, who was 197th overall. However, Potapova appeared to be more difficult to defeat.

In a poor-quality first set, which started with five break breaks before Raducanu pulled away, Potapova, who is Russian-born, also committed numerous errors.

Raducanu broke up with Potapova for the tie-break in the first set, which ended up being 5-4.

After the final set, Potapova quickly broke twice to take a lengthy break before claiming a 3-0 lead.

Before Potapova asserted her authority and won, a subdued Raducanu hurriedly left in a hurry, the pair exchanged breaks.

Although the potential meeting with Sabalenka was inevitable, Raducanu’s level is still starkly visible in the eyes.