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Emma Raducanu vs Marta Kostyuk LIVE: Brit falls to three-set defeat in Madrid Open second round
The British No. 2 took the fight to 24th seed Marta Kostyuk but ultimately fell 4-6, 6-2, 2-6
Emma Raducanu lost a tight second-round match at the Madrid Open to Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, who she beat in the same round of the tournament three years ago.
Kostyuk, who received a bye into the second round, raced into a 2-0 lead but Raducanu fought back in a high-quality match which saw multiple breaks of serve and momentum swings before ultimately losing 4-6, 6-2, 2-6.
The British No. 2 moved into the ascendancy after losing the first set, winning four games in a row and breaking again to seal the second and force a decider.
But a sloppy opening service game conceded the early advantage to the 24th seed, a confident clay-court player whose movement, skilful drop shots and impressive power and accuracy gave her the edge in the deciding set.
Raducanu continued to show moments of her quality and actually won one more point than Kostyuk in the match, but couldn’t hold her serve in the crucial moments as the Ukrainian steamrolled to the finish line and served out the win at the first time of asking.
Follow live updates from their Madrid Open match below:
*Emma Raducanu 1-2 Marta Kostyuk
Kostyuk goes long on a second serve return but looks totally at ease in the next rally, dominating from the baseline before putting away a languid smash at the net.
But Raducanu looks steadier after that shaky start and gets on the board as Kostyuk fires wide.
Emma Raducanu 0-2 Marta Kostyuk*
A double fault by Kostyuk gives Raducanu a reprieve, but the 24th seed effortlessly redirects the Brit around the corner before firing down a cross-court winner to back up her break.
*Emma Raducanu 0-1 Marta Kostyuk
A less than ideal start for the Brit as Kostyuk races into an early break to 15.
The Ukrainian reaches 30-0 on her own serve before she fires long to give Raducanu an opening.
*Emma Raducanu vs Marta Kostyuk
A little bit earlier than expected, the players are out on court in the Madrid sunshine. Raducanu to serve first.
*denotes next server
Emma Raducanu to continue ‘informal’ coaching set-up with Mark Petchey
The Brit has Andy Murray’s former coach Mark Petchey in her camp in Madrid after the pair opted to continue their informal parternship after a successful trial at the Miami Open, where Raducanu reached her first WTA 1000 quarter-final.
Raducanu shared before Madrid that the more relaxed set-up, and having people she knows well in her corner, has been working well for her.
Emma Raducanu to continue ‘informal’ coaching set-up with Mark Petchey
Emma Raducanu marks return to action with straight-sets win at Madrid Open
Emma Raducanu banished the ghosts of last year’s Madrid Open campaign, when she lost in the first round to Maria Lourdes Carle, with a dogged straight-set win over Suzan Lamens.
The Dutch player has risen up the rankings recently and has enjoyed a strong start to the season on clay, but Raducanu dug deep in the key moments to win 7-6, 6-4.
Emma Raducanu marks return to action with straight-sets win at Madrid Open
Bad luck for Boulter
Kartal and Raducanu are the last two Brits left in action in the WTA draw, after British No. 1 Katie Boulter fell in straight sets to Jasmine Paolini.
The Italian sixth seed dropped just three games to seal victory in exactly an hour, bringing an abrupt end to Boulter’s Madrid campaign after a promising start.
The 28-year-old recorded her first WTA win on clay in the first round after a three-set tussle with Katerina Siniakova, but could not replicate that this time round.
Katie Boulter falls to straight-sets defeat to Jasmine Paolini at Madrid Open
Svitolina wins
And Elina Svitolina has absolutely rattled through that second set, winning 6-3, 6-1 against Sonay Kartal.
Raducanu - the last Brit in the women’s draw - vs Kostyuk is up next.
Svitolina a set up on Kartal
17th seed Elina Svitolina is having it all her own way in the final match before Raducanu-Kostyuk on Court 4.
The new Rouen Open champion took the first set 6-3 and leads 3-0 in the second, so Raducanu’s match might be underway sooner rather than later.
How to watch
Viewers in the UK can watch all of the action from the Madrid Open on Sky Sports.
If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
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