Emma Radukanu managed just one game against second seed Iga Sviatek as she lost 11 straight in a 6-1 6-0 hammering in the third round of the Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena.
That equaled her loss to Elena Rybakina at a WTA Tour event in Sydney three years ago.
The only previous time Radukanu played on the main stage at Melbourne Park was against Coco Gauff two years ago, when he acquitted himself well, but Sviatek was simply too good.
Radukanu congratulates Sviatek (right) after the third round match in Melbourne
“I think it was the match after that, I knew I had to play really well,” said Radukanu, who is still winless in four games against Sviatek.
“I think today, credit to Iga, he played good tennis, but I think it was a little bit of him playing well and me not playing that well. That combination is probably not good, and it came out today.
“The score was obviously pretty tough. I feel like I look back and know exactly what I had to do, and I take that as a reaction.”
Entering the tournament without warm-up matches after a back spasm that flared up again in her second-round win over Amanda Anisimova, a third-round showing, Radukanu’s best here, is far from a disaster.
He highlighted his serve as a key area he needs to work on if he is to get any closer to the top players after being broken 16 times and 24 double faults in six sets.
“Three weeks ago, when I was in Auckland, I was rehabbing the pool,” said the 22-year-old, the only Briton to reach the last 32.
“I think playing matches and competing on the tennis court is something I have to be grateful for.
“I started hitting when I came here 18 days ago. I have to be positive that in the first two rounds I was able to beat two leading opponents. But I think today, no excuses for the backhand or the physicality.
“I think what I want to improve is the service. In the first two matches, I fell short against two top players because I was able to defend and move, use the rest of the game.
“If I’m not necessarily able to hit my service games or dictate, I feel like it bleeds into the rest of my game.”
Swiatek was so slow on serve that she was fouled before the start of the match, but after that the Pole was a woman in a hurry, the hot, sunny conditions making her strong shots even louder.
The Briton dug a hole to hold serve in his opening game, but that was as good as it got, with Sviatek almost flawless while Radukanu couldn’t hit enough first serves.
His backhand, usually one of his best assets, was also breaking down, and Radukanu seemed impatient to get off the court after the 70-minute demolition.
Sviatek is a notoriously good lead runner, and this is the 26th match in which he has gone 6-0 in Grand Slams;
“I hit a couple of shots and then I thought, ‘This is what I’ve been training for,'” said the second seed, who is bidding for a first Australian Open title.
“I felt like the ball was listening to me. I was able to do everything I wanted to do. So I just kept going. This match was kind of perfect for me.
“I wouldn’t say I’m ruthless. I just try to have the same attitude no matter what the score is. It’s not like I’m just playing my game. If it works, why stop?
Radukanu was proud of how he handled the event despite the scoreboard and is keen to get back to work straight away, with the next tournament set to take place in Singapore in just over a week. Live on Sky Sports Tennis.
“I think one of my goals this year is just to be consistent, to go with it,” he said.
“My team will probably tell me to take it easy. I feel like I’ve got some pretty good stuff to work on. I’ll probably just want to address it as soon as possible.”
“I feel like I’m speaking from a pretty rational place. I’m not necessarily very emotional.
“I wouldn’t say I’m ruthless,” said Sviatek, the four-time French Open champion and 2022 US Open winner. “I just try to have the same attitude and the same kind of focus no matter what the score is.
“But it’s not like I want to, you know, show off. I’m just playing my game. Why stop? I’ve seen a lot of matches, too.” is something like 2-5. You should always keep going until it’s over.
Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina joined Sviatek in the last 16 with a 6-3 6-4 win over Diana Jastremska, but only after receiving treatment on her back, and the eighth Emma Navarro and the ninth seed Daria Kasatkina also advanced.
german Eva Lees became the first lucky loser to reach the women’s fourth round since 1988, when she beat Romania’s Jacqueline Christian 4-6 6-3 6-3, which gave her a place in Sviatek.
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