Australian Open Shock: Out-of-Sorts Raducanu Falls Short in Melbourne

Emma Raducanu’s Australian Open journey came to an abrupt and sobering end on Thursday night, as the British number one was bundled out in the second round by an inspired Anastasia Potapova. What had been billed as a potential blockbuster clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka instead became a sharp reminder of how fragile Raducanu’s current form remains as she continues her long road back to consistency.

Seeded 28th and returning to the Grand Slam seeding list for the first time in more than three years, Emma Raducanu was beaten 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 by the world number 55 at Melbourne Park. The scoreline, while respectable on paper, masked a performance that never truly caught fire and rarely threatened to turn the tide.

Australian Open Struggles Highlight Raducanu’s Ongoing Rebuild

From the opening exchanges, Raducanu looked slightly off rhythm, both in her movement and in her shot selection. The sharp footwork and fearless ball-striking that once defined her breakthrough US Open triumph appeared only in fleeting moments. Instead, there was hesitancy, particularly on the forehand wing, which she has recently been working to remodel.

That uncertainty proved costly. A wild drive volley at a crucial stage of the opening set and a double fault early in the second handed momentum firmly to Anastasia Potapova, who, despite her own inconsistencies, handled the key moments with greater authority.

Raducanu’s off-season preparation had been far from ideal. A lingering foot injury disrupted her winter training, and she did not return to full hitting sessions until 20 December. While she managed to shake off some rust in the first round against world number 197 Mananchaya Sawangkaew, this second-round test came a step too far.

The British star admitted as much afterwards, speaking candidly about the disconnect she currently feels between her ambitions and her execution.

“I want to be playing a different way,” Raducanu said. “There are definitely pockets of me playing how I want to play and it comes out in flashes, which is a positive. But it’s not how I want to be consistently every day.”

Her words reflected a player very much in transition — aware of what she wants her tennis identity to be, but still searching for the tools and confidence to deliver it on demand.

Melbourne Match Turns on Missed Chances and Momentum Swings

Arthur Fery plays a shot

The match itself was scrappy in the early stages. The first set opened with five breaks of serve, neither player able to settle into a reliable rhythm. Potapova sprayed errors, Raducanu struggled to impose herself, and the quality fluctuated wildly.

Raducanu eventually edged ahead and served for the set at 5-4, appearing to have weathered the storm. But a lapse in concentration allowed Potapova back into the contest, and once the set reached a tie-break, the momentum swung decisively. The Russian-born Austrian raised her level just enough, while Raducanu tightened, conceding the breaker 7-3.

A lengthy break at the end of the set seemed to benefit Potapova more. She burst out of the blocks in the second, breaking twice to race into a 3-0 lead. Raducanu briefly rallied, trading breaks and attempting to inject aggression into her returns, but the body language told its own story. The belief was fading.

Potapova, sensing vulnerability, played with increasing freedom. She dictated rallies when it mattered, served out the match comfortably, and sealed victory with a confidence that Raducanu could not quite match on the night.

For Raducanu, it was a subdued exit — a quick wave to the crowd and a hasty departure, far removed from the fanfare that once followed her every step at Grand Slams.

Sabalenka Clash Missed as Reality Bites

Much of the pre-match narrative had focused on what might come next. A third-round showdown with reigning champion and world number one Aryna Sabalenka loomed tantalisingly on the horizon. The Rod Laver Arena crowd was already buzzing at the prospect.

Instead, that conversation evaporated. This defeat served as a stark reminder that Raducanu is still some distance from the elite level she briefly occupied in 2021. Talent alone, as her career has repeatedly underlined, is not enough without physical robustness and match sharpness.

There is no sense of panic yet, but patience will be required — from Raducanu herself and from those watching her progress so closely.

Australian Open Also Ends for Fery After Breakthrough Run

It was not only Raducanu flying the British flag in Melbourne. Qualifier Arthur Fery also saw his Australian Open adventure come to an end, but with considerably more to smile about.

The 23-year-old world number 186 bowed out in the men’s second round, losing 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 6-3 to Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry. After grinding through three rounds of qualifying, Fery admitted the physical and mental toll had caught up with him.

The opening set was fiercely contested, lasting 79 minutes before slipping away in a tie-break. From there, Etcheverry’s experience told, as Fery’s energy levels dipped.

“I definitely felt that accumulation of matches today,” Fery said. “When you lose that first set 7-6, it doesn’t help mentally or physically.”

Yet his tournament will be remembered for a career-defining upset. In the first round, Fery stunned Italian 20th seed Flavio Cobolli, one of the standout results of the opening days.

Reflecting on his fortnight in Melbourne, Fery struck a proud and pragmatic tone. “It’s probably my best result in my career so far and a stepping stone for 2026 and the future,” he said.

Looking Ahead After an Australian Open Reality Check

For British tennis, the Australian Open has offered a mix of frustration and quiet optimism. Raducanu’s defeat underlined the challenges that still lie ahead, while Fery’s emergence hinted at depth and promise beyond the established names.

As Melbourne moves on without them, the tournament continues to deliver its usual blend of drama and opportunity. For Raducanu in particular, this loss may yet prove useful — a clear snapshot of where she is now, and how much work remains before she can once again dream of deep Grand Slam runs.

The journey, as she herself acknowledged, will not be fixed overnight. But in tennis, as in life, progress is rarely linear — and the Australian Open has a habit of revealing uncomfortable truths as much as glorious moments.