Emma Raducanu's preparations for the first Grand Slam of the year have suffered a significant setback after a surprise defeat at the Hobart International.
Preston stuns former US Open champion
The British tennis star, Emma Raducanu, was knocked out in the quarter-finals on Thursday 15 January 2026 by Australian wildcard Taylah Preston. In a major upset, the world number 204 secured a straight-sets victory, winning 6-2, 6-4.
The match, which was interrupted by a rain delay, saw Raducanu struggle to find her rhythm. Her performance was hampered by a series of unforced errors and costly double faults, particularly on her serve.
A worrying run of form
This result means Raducanu will travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open with just a single competitive win to her name since last September. The loss of form is a concerning trend for the 2021 US Open champion as she aims to make an impact at the major tournament.
The decisive moment came as Raducanu's serve completely deserted her at the end of the match. She lost three consecutive service games to hand victory to the determined local favourite, Preston, who capitalised fully on her opponent's errors.
Questions ahead of Melbourne
This early exit in Hobart raises immediate questions about Raducanu's readiness and confidence heading into the Australian Open. With minimal match practice and a defeat against a player ranked outside the top 200, she faces a tough challenge to rediscover her winning momentum on one of tennis's biggest stages.
All eyes will now be on her first-round draw in Melbourne, where she will need to produce a vastly improved performance to progress and silence the growing doubts about her current form.
