Emma Raducanu said on Wednesday that she will “re-evaluate” her game after Austria’s Anastasia Potapova defeated her 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 in the second round of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, ending the Briton’s bid for a third-round clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
The 21-year-old Raducanu, who captured the US Open as a teenage qualifier in 2021, exited in straight sets after a sluggish performance, extending her streak without a WTA tour title since her breakthrough Grand Slam victory. She entered the tournament following an injury-hit period that has affected her consistency and fitness across multiple seasons on the women’s tour.
Potapova, born in Russia and now representing Austria, advanced to the third round with the win over Raducanu, moving closer to a potential meeting with top-seeded Sabalenka.
Raducanu said she plans to consult with her team after the loss to assess her current level, identify necessary adjustments, and chart the next steps in her training and competition schedule.
Earlier in the tournament, Raducanu raised concerns about the Australian Open schedule, noting that the timing of some matches “does not make sense” from a player’s perspective.
Her second-round defeat marks another early exit at a major since her 2021 US Open title, as she continues efforts to regain form and stability on the WTA Tour. Potapova’s victory boosts her ranking points and season momentum, while Raducanu’s ranking and future tournament entries will depend on her performance following the planned re-evaluation.
Raducanu remains one of Britain’s highest-profile tennis players, attracting scrutiny over coaching, training, and injury management after this latest Grand Slam setback. Fans and tennis authorities will closely follow her schedule and results in the coming months as she attempts to return to title-winning form.
