Emma Raducanu was beaten by Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open on Saturday morning – but won’t leave the first Grand Slam of the year with nothing.
The 22-year-old won just one game as Swiatek secured a 6-1, 6-0 victory to advance to the fourth round of the competition.
Raducanu had gone into the showdown hoping to maintain her good form, having beaten Ekaterina Alexandrova and Amanda Anisimova in rounds one and two respectively.
Yet the Briton was unable to summon the magic that made her a Grand Slam winner at the US Open back in 2021 as she exited the competition with a whimper.
Emma Raducanu was beaten by Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open on Saturday morning – but won’t leave the first Grand Slam of the year with nothing
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Raducanu will undoubtedly be frustrated by her defeat Down Under.
But she will take some solace knowing that she’s pocketed £145,236 for making the third round of the competition.
As for Swiatek, the world No 2 has now ensured she will leave Australia with a minimum of £210,342 to her name after making the fourth round.
The 23-year-old will now face Eva Lys in the next round, with the German advancing with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jaqueline Cristian.
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Meanwhile, Raducanu was brutally honest after losing on Saturday.
The tennis star admitted she had only herself to blame, saying: “Three weeks ago when I was in Auckland, at the end of last year, I was doing pool rehab.
“To be on a court playing matches and competing is something I have to be grateful for.
“I started hitting when I came here 18 days ago. I have to take a positive that I was able to beat two top opponents in the first two rounds.
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“But I think today, no excuses of the back or physically.
“Yeah, I didn’t play well. She played very well. I think, given the preparation we had, we have to be grateful to be in this position.
“Of course, I have a lot of things to take as feedback and work on.”
Furthermore, Raducanu has vowed to work on her serve going forward.
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Emma Raducanu will take some solace knowing that she’s pocketed £145,236 for making the third round of the Australian Open
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She struggled in that area of her game throughout the competition, with her earlier victories papering over the cracks.
And Raducanu has vowed to work hard and knuckle down as she looks to rise up the world rankings this year.
“I’m going to look back and be like, I learned a lot and got a lot of feedback on what I need to do better,” she added.
“I think the thing I want to improve is serving.
Emma Raducanu won just one game against Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open
REUTERS
“The first two matches I got away with it against two top players because I was able to defend and move, use the rest of my game.
“But I think that needs to improve.”
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