Britain’s Emma Raducanu hits a return to Austria’s Anastasia Potapova. Picture: AFP
MELBOURNE:
Emma Raducanu mentioned she is going to sit all the way down to “re-evaluate” her recreation following a flat second-round exit on the Australian Open on Wednesday.
The Briton received a surprising US Open crown as a teenage qualifier in 2021 however has not clinched a tour title since and has struggled for consistency and health.
Her newest disappointment got here with a sluggish 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 loss to Austria’s Russia-born Anastasia Potapova at Melbourne Park.
The twenty eighth seed Raducanu missed the prospect to check herself in opposition to world primary Aryna Sabalenka within the third spherical.
Raducanu admitted that she by no means felt snug on courtroom in opposition to the Fifty fifth-ranked Potapova, regardless of being forward 5-3 within the first set.
“Simply a type of days you do not really feel too good on the courtroom,” mentioned the 23-year-old, who has been managing a foot harm.
Raducanu has had a low-key begin to the 12 months, bowing out within the quarter-finals of a warm-up match in a shock straight-sets loss to 204th-ranked Taylah Preston.
She additionally suffered defeat in her solely singles match on the United Cup this month.
“I do not wish to give myself an excessive amount of of a tough time as a result of I do know my preparation going into this match,” she mentioned.
“I type of have to go away with my head held excessive due to the matches I’ve had right here.”
Though trying to find positives, Raducanu admitted she is going to take a while now to take inventory.
“I do not assume I’ll get straight again on the observe courtroom,” she mentioned.
“I feel I’ll take a number of days, get again, get again residence, and try to simply re-evaluate my recreation a bit.”
Pushed by reporters what she meant, and if she was not taking part in the fashion of tennis she needs, she mentioned: “Yeah, I’d say so.
“I feel I wish to be taking part in a special means.
“And I feel the misalignment with how I am taking part in proper now and the way I wish to be taking part in is one thing that I simply wish to work on.”
No plan to surrender nationality
Grand Slam champion Daniil Medvedev mentioned on Wednesday he had no plans to observe a bunch of fellow Russian gamers and swap his nationality amid the struggle in Ukraine.
Since Moscow’s invasion in February 2022, a variety of Russian gamers have distanced themselves from their homeland.
Former world quantity eight Daria Kasatkina, now ranked 43, modified allegiance to Australia final March having criticised Russia’s angle in the direction of LGBTQ individuals.
She additionally described the battle as a “nightmare”.
Extra not too long ago, Anastasia Potapova introduced that her utility for Austrian citizenship had been accepted.
However Medvedev, the 2021 US Open winner and Russia’s highest-profile participant, mentioned he wouldn’t be following swimsuit.
“I one hundred pc perceive and respect, as a result of, you realize, that is one thing you are able to do mainly, particularly in sports activities,” he mentioned on the Australian Open.
“It is even possibly a bit simpler than for different individuals.
“I by no means actually thought of this,” added the 29-year-old, who was born in Moscow however lives in Monte Carlo.
“As a result of I imagine in the place you’re born is vital.
“However once more, a variety of gamers change, and I am buddies with them. I am buddies with a variety of gamers within the locker room, so it is their selection.”
Russian and Belarusian gamers presently compete below a impartial white flag.
Together with Kasatkina and Potapova, Russian-born Kamilla Rakhimova has switched allegiance to Ukbekistan, as has Maria Timofeeva.
