Emma Raducanu lost to Anastasia Potapova 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 in the second round of the Australian Open 2026 on Tuesday. The British number one failed to hold a 5-3 lead in the first set and struggled with unforced errors throughout the match at Melbourne Park.
Raducanu entered the tournament as the 28th seed but could not match Potapova’s consistency in windy conditions. The defeat marks another early exit for the 2021 US Open champion.
Raducanu Squanders First Set Lead
Raducanu looked in control when she went up 5-3 in the first set. She served for the set but failed to close it out. Potapova raised her level and forced a tiebreak, where she dominated 7-3.
The turning point came when Raducanu’s forehand broke down in key moments. She hit just seven winners on that side during the entire match. Her first serve also weakened when she needed it most, allowing Potapova to take charge.
The wind made it harder for both players to time the ball. Raducanu admitted after the match that she never felt comfortable with the conditions. Potapova adjusted better and kept the ball deep, forcing Raducanu into mistakes.
Second Set Collapse
The second set was one-sided. Raducanu dropped serve twice at the start and fell behind 4-1 after a double fault. She briefly got one break back but could not build any momentum.
Potapova played cleaner tennis and hit her spots consistently. Raducanu’s body language showed frustration as she struggled to find answers. Her Australian super fan, James Bray, who had been cheering loudly, went quiet as the match slipped away.
Raducanu finished with 28 unforced errors compared to just seven forehand winners. The final backhand error into the net sealed her exit from the tournament.
Injury and Preparation Issues
Raducanu arrived in Melbourne with limited match practice. She dealt with a bruised foot during the pre-season, which cut into her training time. Her early-season form showed the effects, with only two wins from her first five matches this year.
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Those two victories came against Camila Osorio, who was struggling with illness, and a Thai debutant at the slam. The lack of quality matches left Raducanu short on confidence when she faced Potapova.
In 2025, Raducanu only lost to top-10 Grand Slam champions at majors. Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Swiatek were the only players to beat her at slams last year. Losing to world number 55 Potapova shows a step backward from that form.
Potapova Faces Sabalenka Next
Potapova will now play world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the third round. The 24-year-old Austrian was a junior Wimbledon champion in 2016 and previously reached world number 21 before slipping down the rankings.
Sabalenka beat China’s Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3, 6-1 on Tuesday and looked sharp after a slow start. The Belarusian won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024 and is the tournament favorite.
Potapova plays a powerful groundstroke game that worked well in the windy conditions. She does not have much variety, but her clean ball-striking gave Raducanu problems all match.
British Singles Campaign Down to One
Cameron Norrie is now the only British singles player left in the tournament. Arthur Fery lost to Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 6-3 in the second round on the same day as Raducanu’s exit.
Raducanu spoke to the media after her loss and admitted the conditions affected her performance. She said the wind felt lively and made it hard to time the ball properly.
“I thought it was a very difficult match with the conditions in the first set,” Raducanu said. “I didn’t feel like I dealt with it particularly well. Even so, I still had some chances in the first set, but just one of those days you don’t feel too good on the court.”
She added that Potapova played better in the second set and found her rhythm. The British star will now head back to the practice court to work on the issues exposed in Melbourne.
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