Emma Raducanu delivered a strikingly honest critique of her own performance following a disappointing second-round exit at the Australian Open in Melbourne. The British tennis star, seeded 28th, fell to a straight-sets defeat against world number 55 Anastasia Potapova, with a final scoreline of 7-6 (3) 6-2.
A Promising Start That Faded Away
Raducanu had initially shown promising form, raising hopes of a potential third-round clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka. However, she faded noticeably from a competitive position, particularly during a second set that quickly slipped from her grasp. The match was played in challenging windy conditions, which both players struggled with initially.
Raducanu's Frank Self-Assessment
Speaking candidly after the match, Raducanu revealed she plans to take several days to thoroughly re-evaluate her game. 'I think I'm going to take a few days, get back home and try and just re-evaluate my game a bit,' she explained. 'Watch it back, see where I can improve. What I have been feeling and also what is visually apparent.'
The 23-year-old expressed particular frustration with the disparity between her current playing style and her desired approach. 'I want to be playing a different way, and I think the misalignment with how I'm playing right now and how I want to be playing is something that I just want to work on,' she admitted.
Searching for Consistency and Form
Raducanu made numerous errors during the match, particularly off her forehand, and looked visibly despondent as the contest progressed. She acknowledged that Potapova adapted better to the conditions, settling towards the end of the first set after fighting back from 5-3 down.
'I thought it was a very difficult match with the conditions in the first set,' Raducanu reflected. 'I didn't feel like I dealt with it particularly well. I still had some chances in the first set but, nevertheless, just one of those days you don't feel too good on the court.'
Coaching Changes and Physical Challenges
The defeat continues what has been a challenging period for Raducanu since her remarkable US Open triumph four-and-a-half years ago. She has worked with multiple coaches in search of consistency at the top level, most recently hiring Francisco Roig last summer.
While she has spoken positively about their work together, Raducanu admitted she hasn't yet found the right formula on court. Her preparation for the Australian Open was further complicated by physical issues, including a foot injury that disrupted her pre-season training.
Looking Forward with Pragmatism
Despite the disappointment, Raducanu maintained a pragmatic perspective about her Australian campaign. 'I don't want to give myself too much of a hard time because I know my preparation going into this tournament,' she said. 'I kind of have to leave with my head held high because of the matches I've had here.'
She revealed she hadn't been certain about competing in Australia initially, making her participation something of an achievement in itself. 'I didn't even know at the beginning if I would be coming to Australia, so it's a positive in that sense,' Raducanu noted. 'I don't regret the decision, because I got to come and play a slam here.'
Future Plans and Tournament Schedule
Raducanu's immediate focus will be on returning home and working on specific aspects of her game. 'I definitely want to feel better on certain shots before I start playing again,' she emphasised, indicating she wants to rediscover the aggressive style that brought her early success.
'At the end of the day, I just want to hit the ball to the corners and hard,' Raducanu stated. 'I feel like I'm doing all this variety, and it's not doing what I want it to do. I need to just work on playing in a way more similar to how I was playing when I was younger.'
The British number one is next scheduled to compete at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, beginning on February 1st. This tournament holds personal significance as it takes place in her father's home country.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, Raducanu remained optimistic. 'The season is still quite long so, hopefully, if I stay healthy, do the right things, then it will start falling into place,' she concluded.
