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20th Jan 2022

Emma Raducanu eliminated from Australian Open in second round

Both Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray have been knocked out of the Australian Open in the second round in the same morning, with Murray losing in straight sets

Reuben Pinder

Raducanu and Murray are both out

Emma Raducanu has been knocked out of the Australian Open in the second round, losing 2-1 in sets to the Montenegrin Danka Kovinić 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

The teenager becomes the second Brit to be eliminated on Thursday morning, after Andy Murray was knocked out in straight sets by Taro Daniel. 

Raducanu had raced into an early 3-0 lead, but required treatment on her hand due to a blister and eventually lost the first set.

She failed to hit one ace throughout the match, while Kovinić hit four, committing only two double faults compared to Raducanu’s four.

The difference between the two players of course came at the crucial break point moments. Raducanu only scored six of a possible 15, with Kovinić holding her nerve when it mattered most, winning seven of a possible 11.

This premature exit will come as a great disappointment to the Brit, who won Sports Personality of the Year in 2021 after her incredible US Open victory against Leylah Fernandez in September.

However, this is only her second defeat in a grand slam, having reached the fourth round of Wimbedon last year before winning the US Open without dropping a set.

Despite this defeat, she continues to win fans across the nation with her resilient displays and will hope to improve on this performance at the French Open in May.