Emma Raducanu vs Maria Lourdes Carle LIVE: Madrid Open result and reaction as Brit suffers surprise defeat
Raducanu suffered a shock defeat in the first-round of the Madrid Open
Emma Raducanu suffered a surprise defeat to qualifier Maria Lourdes Carle in the first round of the Madrid Open.
Raducanu shot up 82 places in the WTA rankings after scoring four victories in a row between the Billie Jean Cup and the Stuttgart Open, where the Briton put up a strong performance in her quarter-final defeat to World No 1 Iga Swiatek.
She had hoped to build on an impressive showing on the German clay in the Spanish capital, but produced a sloppy outing, producing too many errors to let the Argentine seize control. The 2021 US Open champion had been drawn against Karolina Pliskova, but the former World No 1 withdrew earlier this week, affording the opportunity to Carle to secure a significant win as she continued a breakthrough season that has seen her climb into the world’s top 100.
She will now face the 17th seed Veronika Kudermetova in the second round, with Raducanu forced to reflect on another disappointing defeat with her French Open participation still in doubt. Follow reaction from Raducanu vs Lourdes Carle from the Madrid Open below
Emma Raducanu 2-6, 1-4 Maria Lourdes Carle*
An elegant approaching winner suggests brighter things in the fifth game of the set, but Maria Lourdes Carle, as she has been throughout, is calm, composed and confident on defence, allowing the errors to come. Emma Raducanu has held serve just once in the match and is two games from defeat.
Emma Raducanu* 2-6, 1-3 Maria Lourdes Carle
A shake of the head from Emma Raducanu as she flaps her forehand into the net, before rather swiping at a serve that gets big on her. A touch rash, that, and the backhand return that follows it is equally ill-judged.
Emma Raducanu 2-6, 1-2 Maria Lourdes Carle*
But Raducanu just hasn’t been able to maintain momentum in the match at all. A few faulty forehands, of which there have been far too many, and another service game slips away.
Emma Raducanu* 2-6, 1-1 Maria Lourdes Carle
Warm applause from the Madrid crowd as Emma Raducanu plants the second of consecutive forehand volleys neatly into the corner to beat Carle. Deuce, and an ugly double fault creates an opening.
Taken! A much-needed break for the Brit.
Emma Raducanu 2-6, 0-1 Maria Lourdes Carle*
New set, same story. Emma Raducanu has just pushed too many of her aggressive shots wide so far, giving Maria Lourdes Carle too many soft points. Coach Iain Bates twitches in his chair as an overhit forehand allows Carle two more break point chances, the second of which is seized.
Maria Lourdes Carle takes the first set 6-2
A thrash of a forehand is wide from Emma Raducanu, and that’s that for the first set. Maria Lourdes Carle has been very, very impressive so far.
Emma Raducanu 2-5 Maria Lourdes Carle*
At last, a hold for Emma Raducanu, staving off the concession of the first set.
Emma Raducanu* 1-5 Maria Lourdes Carle
Carle canters towards the first set with a rock solid hold.
Emma Raducanu 1-4 Maria Lourdes Carle*
This is a really sharp tennis from Maria Lourdes Carle. A loopy block from Emma Raducanu floats awakwardly after bouncing and could be tough to put away, but Carle steers it delightfully with her forehand, clipping the inside of the line. A fierce flash over the net yorks an approaching Raducanu to close out a third consecutive break for the South American.
Emma Raducanu* 1-3 Maria Lourdes Carle
A look to her coach from Emma Raducanu, just trying to reset and avoid this first set tumbling down the hill away from her. She’s aided by a double fault at 30-15 as Carle errs, and then another shallow slice hits the net cord, gifting the Brit a brak point.
And she takes it! Much better from Raducanu, keeping the ball deep or away from her opponent’s forehand to break back.
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