Tennis Australian Open Women's Singles -

'Subdued' Emma Raducanu exits 2026 Australian Open in big shock after defeat to Anastasia Potapova, who next faces Aryna Sabalenka

React to this story

British No. 1 Emma Raducanu lost in the second round of the 2026 Australian Open against world No. 55 Anastasia Potapova. Raducanu couldn't close out the first set after being 5-3 up and then lost her serve three times in the second set. Potapova will face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the next round. Stream every match of the 2026 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+.

Watch as Britain's Raducanu is knocked out in second-round shock

Video credit: TNT Sports

Emma Raducanu’s 2026 Australian Open campaign was ended by a straight-sets defeat to world No. 55 Anastasia Potapova in the second round.

British No. 1 Raducanu was 5-3 up in the first set but could not close it out as Potapova forced a tie-break.

The Russian-born Austrian won the breaker 7-3 and then immediately broke twice to start the second set.

US Open Women's Singles -

Raducanu 'pulls out' of US Open due to stress fracture

03/08/2026 at 21:29

Raducanu got one break back but Potapova won 7-6(3) 6-2 to book her place in the next round against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

"In the end, it was just a more aggressive Potapova," said former doubles world No. 1 Rennae Stubbs on commentary.

"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."

Raducanu was looking to make the third round at the Australian Open for the second year in a row.

But her performance was not on par with her showing in the first round when she won in straight sets.

The former US Open winner made 28 unforced errors and won just 46 per cent of her first serves.

"I thought it was a very difficult match with the conditions in the first set. I thought it was tricky trying to get used to how lively it felt out there," said Raducanu.

"And also the wind was pretty strong from one side, so just not something that I felt too comfortable with. 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.

"But credit to her. She found a better solution in the first set, and then really played better in the second."

Raducanu missed the last two months of the 2025 season due to injury and had her off-season disrupted by a foot issue.

- - -

Stream every match of the 2026 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Billie Jean King Cup