Emma Raducanu wins just one game in Iga Swiatek defeat
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Emma Raducanu suffered the joint heaviest defeat of her career against Iga Swiatek in the third round of the Australian Open. The British number two managed only a single game and lost 11 in a row in a 6-1 6-0 hammering on Rod Laver Arena. It equalled the defeat she suffered to Elena Rybakina at a WTA Tour event in Sydney three years ago.
The only previous time Raducanu had played on Melbourne Park’s main arena was against Coco Gauff two years ago, when she acquitted herself well, but Swiatek was simply far too good. “I played a few shots that I thought afterwards this is what I practise for,” said the second seed, who is bidding for a first Australian Open title.
Having come into the tournament with no warm-up matches following a back spasm – which flared up again during her second-round win over Amanda Anisimova – a third-round showing, Raducanu’s best here, is by no means a disaster. But this was a brutal demonstration of the gap Raducanu must try to breach if she is to make it to the top of the game.
Swiatek was unhappy to be given a time violation before the match had even begun but she is a famously fast starter on court, which made Raducanu’s first service game feel like an important one. Swiatek had won six points before the British player managed to get on the board but she stood up well, overcoming a first double fault with some confident play.
