Emma Raducanu crashes out of Australian Open after illness struggle as third Brit exits on same day

Emma Raducanu crashes out of Australian Open after illness struggle as third Brit exits on same day

WATCH NOW: Emma Raducanu speaks after her first round win at the Australian Open

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 18/01/2024

- 10:50

Updated: 18/01/2024

- 11:51

The 21-year-old has been knocked out in the second round

Emma Raducanu is out of the Australian Open after being beaten in three sets by China's Wang Yafan.

The Brit appeared to struggle with illness as her first Grand Slam in a year came to an end in the second round.


Wang took the first set 6-4 before Raducanu drew level in a dramatic second.

Raducanu called for the medic at 2-0 down in the third set and didn't have enough in the tank to recover, with Wang reaching the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win.

Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu appeared to be struggling with illness

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She became the third Brit to exit the tournament on Thursday.

Jack Draper and Katie Boulter are also out, though Cameron Norrie is through to the third round.

Raducanu was making her first appearance at a major since last year's Australian Open.

She missed much of 2023 after undergoing surgery on both wrists and her left ankle last April.

The 2021 US Open winner returned to action at the ASB Classic in Auckland before making her way to Melbourne.

She beat the USA's Shelby Rogers in the first round on Tuesday, winning in straight sets.

But she has suffered defeat in the second round against China star Wang.

Wang broke twice in the first set to take a big lead.

Raducanu broke back at 5-2 but her 29-year-old opponent had enough to hold on.

Wang broke in the first game of the second set and had a break point to go 3-0 up.

But Raducanu appeared to come alive at that moment and showed some of the tennis that saw her break records at Flushing Meadows almost two-and-a-half years ago.

Raducanu sped into a 5-3 lead and eventually won 6-4 to level the match up.

Wang again broke in the first game of the decider before holding her serve.

Raducanu appeared to gesture that she felt ill during the second game and called for the medic afterwards.

She had her blood pressure checked before returning to action.

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Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu has been knocked out in the second round

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The heat in Melbourne has caused problems for some players this week but the temperature was only 18 degrees during Raducanu's match.

She saved three break points in her next service game, showing clear signs that all was not well in between points.

Raducanu was still able to turn it on in the big moments.

But the vital match in the third set proved to be the fourth game, with Wang saving multiple break points to go 3-1 ahead.

The match went with serve from there on in and Raducanu tasted defeat.

Emma Raducanu and Wang Yafan

Wang Yafan was too good for Emma Raducanu

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It was a disappointing day for the Brits in the singles draw.

Draper, who came through a gruelling five-set match in the first round, lost to America's Tommy Paul in four.

British No 1 Boulter then lost to China's Qinwen Zheng in straight sets.

But men's No 1 Norrie is through after coming back from two sets down to beat Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri.

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