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'Not again': Tennis fans left saddened by Emma Raducanu drama

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Emma Raducanu, pictured here being plagued by more injury woes at the Madrid Open.
Emma Raducanu was plagued by more injury woes in her loss at the Madrid Open. Image: Getty

Tennis fans were left heartbroken for Emma Raducanu on Tuesday after the British star was plagued by more injury woes at the Madrid Open.

The US Open champion suffered a tight 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 defeat to Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina and said her back was restricting her from moving wide on the court in the opening set.

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Speaking after the match, the World No.11 revealed she has been dealing with back pain and "some niggles" throughout the week in Madrid.

The 19-year-old received treatment on her back and managed to move better as she levelled the match to force a deciding set.

But despite taking the lead in the third set she couldn't hold on for victory.

"I would have given myself a five percent chance of winning that match, and for it to almost happen, I think that was a positive thing," said the US Open champion.

"I was kind of struggling a bit with my back, to be honest.

"Throughout the week I have been carrying some niggles, and it's kind of just taking its toll, all of the matches at this kind of level.

"I think that's a good thing that I feel like I'm going through this and my body is building with each match I play."

Emma Raducanu, pictured here after her loss to Anhelina Kalinina at the Madrid Open.
Emma Raducanu leaves the court after her loss to Anhelina Kalinina at the Madrid Open. (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Raducanu played her first-ever WTA tournament on clay last month in Stuttgart and Madrid was just her second tour-level appearance on the surface.

The teenager came agonisingly close to reaching the quarter-finals at the Caja Magica and gave credit to Kalinina, who has now knocked out grand slam champions in each of her three matches so far this tournament.

"I'm feeling pretty positive. A lot of the time with me it's just overload and then three days, two, three days complete rest and I'm okay to start training again," added Raducanu.

"Hopefully the plan right now is to still go to Rome (next week)."

Fans were left saddened for Raducanu after the British star seemed to be finding some much-needed form.

Anhelina Kalinina continues giant-killing run

World No.37 Kalinina is through to her first-ever WTA 1000 quarter-final after also beating Garbine Muguruza and Sloane Stephens in Madrid.

The 25-year-old Ukrainian was full of praise for Raducanu, who saved 7 of 12 break points against her.

"I think she's super talented, she's amazing, she moves excellent, she has good hands, good feeling," Kalinina said of Raducanu.

"She's covering all the court and she's playing good angles. She has all the shots, that's why it's so tough to play her."

Anhelina Kalinina and Emma Raducanu, pictured here shaking hands after their Madrid Open clash.
Anhelina Kalinina and Emma Raducanu shake hands after their Madrid Open clash. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Kalinina, who beat Australian No.1 Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round, will meet Jill Teichmann in the quarters after the Canadian defeated Elena Rybakina 6-3 6-1.

Earlier, American Jessica Pegula defeated 2019 US Open winner Bianca Andreescu 7-5 6-1 to set up a quarter-final encounter with Sara Sorribes Tormo.

The Spaniard, who took out Naomi Osaka in the second round, defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-4 1-6 6-3 to reach her third WTA 1000 quarter-final.

with agencies

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