Emma Raducanu has shown that she is capable of short bursts of excellence, but consistency and durability remain elusive. Yesterday she suffered a comprehensive defeat in the first round of the Madrid Open, losing 6-2, 6-2 to María Lourdes Carlé, an Argentinian qualifier.
Raducanu had arrived in Madrid having led Great Britain to victory over France in the Billie Jean King Cup before reaching the quarter-final in Stuttgart, a WTA 500 event, only losing in two tight sets to Iga Swiatek, the world No 1. But here she put in a dire performance. She struggled to find her range, missing badly as her unforced errors piled up off both wings.
To her credit, Carlé had worked her way through the qualifying draw without dropping a set and she stepped on to Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Stadium filled with confidence and armed with a game built for clay. She brilliantly outmanoeuvred Raducanu with her potent topspin forehand, angles and drop shots.
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