Emma Raducanu’s hopes of facing her idol Simona Halep are thwarted for the third time after she is beaten in three sets by lowly-ranked Danka Kovinic; Halep, the 14th seed, goes up against Beatriz Haddad Maia later; Garbine Muguruza is knocked out
Last Updated: 20/01/22 11:23am
Emma Raducanu’s Australian Open debut ended in a painful defeat to Danka Kovinic as she was hampered by blisters on her hand.
The 6-4 4-6 6-3 loss marks the first time the 19-year-old has lost a completed match at a Grand Slam, with her only previous defeat coming when she pulled out with breathing difficulties against Ajla Tomljanovic in the fourth round of Wimbledon.
More to follow…
Immense fight.@emmaraducanu fought through the pain all the way to the end.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/kassEjfdpT
Third seed Muguruza crashes out; Teen star Tauson on the rise
Two leading names in the women’s draw fell within minutes of each other, with third seed Garbine Muguruza losing to French veteran Alize Cornet 6-3 6-3 and sixth seed Anett Kontaveit beaten 6-2 6-4 by Danish teenager Clara Tauson.
Tauson, the junior champion at Melbourne Park three years ago, is making her senior debut.
Doing it on your own terms ?
Memories to treasure forever ???@bambamsam30 ? #AusOpen ? #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/fwm1ZcZftp
Former US Open champion Sam Stosur’s 20th and final Australian Open singles campaign ended in a 6-2 6-2 defeat to 10th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka surrendered the opening set before outclassing China’s Wang Xinyu 1-6 6-4 6-2 and Former French Open champion Iga Swiatek booked her spot in the next round with a 6-2 6-2 win over Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson.
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