Former US Open champion crashes out of Australian Open

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu has crashed out of the ongoing Australian Open tournament. The 21-year-old exited the tourney after losing to Chinese world No.94 Wang Yafan in the second round on Thursday.

Raducanu lost 6-4 4-6 6-4 to Chinese world No.94 Wang Yafan to crash out of Australian Open

Raducanu, currently ranked world No.296 after a long spell away from the WTA Tour with injury problems and subsequent surgery, lost 6-4 4-6 6-4.

It was just the second tournament back for Raducanu, who won the US Open as a qualifier in 2021 and was ranked as high as world No.10 two years ago.

Raducanu, who beat American world No.161 Shelby Rogers in her opening match, was bidding to reach the third round at Melbourne Park for the first time ever but her loss means it is Wang who will next face 12th-seed Zheng Qinwen.

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The British put up a good fight against Wang, winning the second set to force a decider – but looked fatigued and tired in the third set – and received a medical time-out before her exit was confirmed on Show Court 2.

Raducanu raised concerns over her fitness ahead of the tournament, pulling out of two warm-up matches against Mirra Andreeva and Donna Vekic.

That came after an impressive showing in Auckland, her first WTA Tour event in nine months, beating Elena-Gabriela Ruse and looking strong in defeat to second-seed Elena Svitolina, who compared the Briton to world No.1 Iga Swiatek.

Raducanu narrowly avoided qualifying for the Australian Open thanks to her protected ranking after a number of her fellow stars withdrew from the opening Grand Slam of the year.

Meanwhile, British No.1 Katie Boulter also lost in the second round on Thursday, suffering a 6-3 6-3 defeat to Chinese star Zheng.

In the men’s singles, British No.1 Cameron Norrie reached the third round with a five-set win over Giulio Zeppieri but Jack Draper lost to 14th-seed Tommy Paul.