Emma Raducanu Stumbles at Australian Open
British No 1 Emma Raducanu suffered a disappointing 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 defeat to Austria’s Anastasia Potapova in the second round of the 2026 Australian Open. This marked the first time since 2022 that Raducanu lost to a lower-ranked player at a major, highlighting a rare misstep in her career. The 23-year-old, seeded 28th, arrived in Melbourne underprepared due to an off-season foot injury, and windy conditions on court exacerbated her struggles.
Raducanu had a promising lead at 5-3 in the first set, but Potapova rallied to win the tie-break. In the second set, Raducanu fell behind 4-1 after dropping serve twice, eventually losing in straight sets.
Lack of Confidence and Forehand Woes
Raducanu admitted post-match that she lacked belief in her attacking game and was frustrated by the adjustments to her forehand, which now had a higher takeback aimed at more spin. She landed just 70% of forehand returns compared with 96% for Potapova and made 19 unforced errors from that wing alone. Overall, she recorded 28 unforced errors.
“At the end of the day, I just want to hit the ball to the corners and hard. I feel like I’m doing all this variety, and it’s not doing what I want it to do. I need to just work on playing in a way more similar to how I was playing when I was younger,” Raducanu said.
Ominous Signs in Coach Communication
A critical factor noted during the match was Raducanu’s lack of communication with her coach Francisco Roig. Independent described it as an «ominous sign» — during key moments, there was almost no interaction or tactical instruction from her coaching box. This absence of guidance compounded her struggles on court and underscored the ongoing questions around her coaching stability.
“I think I want to be playing a different way, and I think the misalignment with how I’m playing right now and how I want to be playing is something that I just want to work on,” Raducanu said, hinting at the possibility of further changes.
Injury and Preparation Challenges
Raducanu’s off-season was limited by a foot injury, delaying her return to full practice until 20 December 2025. She entered Melbourne with only one win in warm-up matches and admitted her preparation was insufficient for Grand Slam competition. The lack of match rhythm was evident against Potapova, compounded by windy and lively court conditions.
“I didn’t feel very well from the start. It was difficult conditions… and I’d not played many matches in the build-up,” Raducanu explained.
Looking Forward
Despite the setback, Raducanu emphasised the need to rebuild her tennis identity and return to the style that made her the youngest US Open champion at 18. With the Grand Slam season ahead, she plans to focus on regaining confidence in her forehand and refining her tactical approach.
“It’s not going to fall into place straight away, but the more I work on how I want to be playing, it will be more of my identity every time I step onto the court,” she added.
This defeat marks a crucial moment for Raducanu to reassess her game after years of high expectations, injuries, and coaching changes, highlighting the fine margins at the top level of women’s tennis.
