Former six-time Grand Slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs thought that Emma Raducanu looked “very subdued, quiet and passive” during a surprise Australian Open second-round loss.
After landing a seeding for this year’s Happy Slam and making it past the first round in straight sets, the 28th-seeded Briton exited in round two after world No. 55 Anastasia Potapova handed her a 7-6 (3) 6-3 loss.
Early in the match, both players struggled to hold their serve but Raducanu led 5-3 through the opening eight games and had a great chance to close out the opener. But then, the British tennis player failed to do so – and she paid the ultimate price – as the world No. 55 dominated the tie-break to steal the opener.Â
After losing the first set in a heartbreaking way, Raducanu’s level totally collapsed as she lost her serve three times in the second set.
During the match, Raducanu had 17 winners, 28 unforced errors, and lost her serve six times.
Stubbs, who worked with Serena Williams during the 2022 US Open, was left unimpressed by the 2021 US Open champion’s display.
Stubbs: Potapova really wanted it… Raducanu looked very subdued, not spirited at all
“In the end, it was just a more aggressive Potapova. A player who really wanted it, you saw it on her face and in her words to her coaches, she was really wanting to win this match. Certainly, there will be questions asked of Emma Raducanu because that was not as spirited an effort from her today; very subdued, quiet and passive,” the former six-time Grand Slam doubles champion said during match commentary,