- Argentinian easily wins first-round match 6-2, 6-2
- Harriet Dart also out in straight sets; Jack Draper through
The great challenge of professional tennis is not just performing at a high level but doing so week after week, regardless of the conditions, for a sustained period of time. Emma Raducanu has shown that she is capable of short bursts of excellence, but consistency and durability remain elusive. On Wednesday 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.
Written by Tumaini Carayol in Madrid
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/24/emma-raducanu-madrid-open-defeat-tennis under the title “‘Exhausted’ Emma Raducanu thrashed by qualifier María Carlé at Madrid Open”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
