Emma Raducanu was knocked out of the Madrid Open regardless of a constructive efficiency towards clay-court specialist Marta Kostyuk.
The previous US Open champion reached the quarter-finals of one of many WTA Tour’s premier occasions for the primary time on the Miami Open final month however won’t be repeating the feat within the Spanish capital.
Raducanu recorded a powerful straight-sets win over Suzan Lamens within the opening spherical, however regardless of displaying flashes of world-class brilliance, she was unable to cease Ukraine’s Kostyuk, who’s seeded twenty fourth, sealing a 6-4 2-6 6-2 win.
Raducanu had overwhelmed Kostyuk comfortably of their final assembly on the identical match three years in the past however made a poor begin right here.
She dug in to claw her approach again from 1-3 to 3-3 just for two double faults to see her instantly drop serve once more, with Kostyuk happening to take the opening set.
Kostyuk acquired remedy to her proper wrist forward of the second set and this time it was Raducanu who made the stronger begin, with the 22-year-old levelling the match because of a run of 4 video games in a row.
However a poor sport from Raducanu, who is continuous to work informally with coach Mark Petchey, to start out the decider set the tone as Kostyuk powered her option to the end line.
“I lost a very easy match to her three years ago, so it was not good memories,” mentioned 22-year-old Kostyuk.
“I knew Emma’s a great fighter and she’s achieved a lot and can play amazing tennis. It was going to be a battle so very happy with the win.”
Fleming: Raducanu discovering her clay ft
Raducanu will takes positives regardless of defeat to Kostyuk
Colin Fleming, talking on Sky Sports activities Tennis: “Emma Raducanu is a competitor. She’ll be disappointed at this stage but I think when the dust settles there’s a lot to take from this match. This was a good level at times on a surface where she hasn’t played a lot of tennis recently.
“If she will hold working, hold discovering her ft within the clay, her motion, her stability and simply consolation on this floor. I believe she will nonetheless have some nice outcomes on this clay-court season and I believe it can serve her nicely for past that into the grass and the onerous.
“A lot of positives to take from this one.”
Story of the Tape
Boulter thumped by French Open finalist; Kartal additionally out
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Highlights of the Madrid Open conflict between Jasmine Paolini and British No 1 Katie Boulter
Katie Boulter was thumped 6-1 6-2 by Jasmine Paolini in simply 56 minutes.
The British No 1 continues to be inexperienced on clay and proved no match for the sixth seed, who reached the French Open last final season.
Boulter significantly struggled on serve, successful solely 11 factors within the match, whereas she didn’t maintain serve till the penultimate sport of the competition.
Paolini had an opportunity to clinch an much more decisive victory when she held a primary match level at 5-0 within the second set however Boulter not less than rallied a bit of to keep away from a love set.
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Highlights of the WTA match between Elina Svitolina and Sonay Kartal
It was an identical story for Sonay Kartal towards in-form Elina Svitolina, the British No 3 shedding out 6-3 6-1 to the seventeenth seed.
Prime seed Aryna Sabalenka was a cushty 6-3 6-4 winner over Anna Blinkova however eighth seed Zheng Qinwen’s struggles continued with a 6-4 6-4 defeat towards Anastasia Potapova.
Within the males’s draw, high seed Alexander Zverev eased to a 6-2 6-2 win over Roberto Bautista Agut and third seed Taylor Fritz beat Christopher O’Connell 6-1 6-4.
Defending champion Andrey Rublev and ninth seed Daniil Medvedev each progressed with out hitting a ball after their opponents withdrew, whereas girls’s ninth seed Paula Badosa pulled out with a again harm.
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