"Raducanu, the 28th seed, was in control for a significant portion of the match after establishing a 5-3 lead and serving for a set. However, after being more solid than her opponent for much of the opening set, she crumbled in the decisive moments. Raducanu's struggles were identical to her issues in the opening matches of the season; her first serve was impotent and imprecise in the important moments, and her forehand was painfully erratic."
"Potapova is a talented shotmaker with a career high ranking of No 21. Despite the one-dimensional nature of her game, she is an excellent ball-striker and relentless in her desperation to dominate all opponents. However, the 24-year-old has largely failed to live up to the early hype after being one of the best junior players of their generation, winning junior Wimbledon in 2016 and reaching No 1."
Emma Raducanu lost in the Australian Open second round to Anastasia Potapova 7-6 (3), 6-2 after a tepid, error-strewn performance marked by impotent first serves and an erratic forehand. The defeat to world No 55 Potapova represents Raducanu's worst first-week ranking result since the 2024 Australian Open comeback from an eight-month layoff. Raducanu led 5-3 and served for the set but crumbled in decisive moments, surrendering a break and then the tie-break. Potapova is a talented shotmaker and relentless competitor who previously excelled as a junior, but she has struggled to fulfil early career expectations.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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