Emma Raducanu loses in straight sets to Daria Kasatkina at Eastbourne – reaction
Three British Women Lose In Straight Sets
Emma Raducanu lost in the Rothesay International at Eastbourne to Daria Kasatkina from Russia in two sets. It was a sad day for British women as Jasmine Paolini also beat Katie Boulter and Leylah Fernandez defeated Harriet Dart. The British players only won a total of 14 games in three matches due to the difficult windy conditions.
Raducanu struggled to handle her opponents' slow-paced style during the match, resulting in her serve being broken four times in the second set. She made several mistakes while trying to increase the speed of her shots, feeling overwhelmed by Kasatkina's defensive tactics.
Some people also mentioned that Raducanu's wins against Sloane Stephens and her strong comeback to defeat Jessica Pegula on Wednesday may have tired her out due to her extended breaks from playing in the past year and a half.
Even though it wasn't a great day for the former US Open champion, her recent strong performances and resilience in Nottingham two weeks ago give her a glimmer of hope as she heads to Wimbledon for the first time in two years. She can also count on having a supportive crowd cheering her on.
Raducanu Loses To Kasatkina
Raducanu grinned as she was outplayed by Kasatkina's crafty slow and low shots.
Kasatkina advances to the net, putting herself in a position to win the match with a score of 40-30. She seems to have a better understanding of the conditions than Raducanu.
The Russian player hits a serve right in the middle of the court, but Raducanu is unable to return it.
And there you have it. Kasatkina wins the game with a score of 6-2, 6-2.
Raducanu Trails 2-6, 2-5 Against Kasatkina
It seems like her entire opportunity depends on keeping her serve in this moment, but things don't look good as she begins with a mistake in the toss. She also makes two errors and a great forehand shot by Kasatkina, leaving her behind at 15-40. Now she must try to save the break point with her second serve.
She is unable to. Kasatkina hits a powerful forehand shot from the center towards the right side to secure another break.
The Russian player is serving in the game. Raducanu is struggling to find her groove. She has been completely thrown off by the windy conditions and Kasatkina's disruptive tactics.
Raducanu Trailing 2-6, 2-4 Against Kasatkina
Raducanu is showing signs of life as she aggressively attacks Kasatkina's defensive shots and unimpressive serves. Raducanu puts pressure on Kasatkina and manages to break her serve easily.
Raducanu Trails Kasatkina In Set Two
Kasatkina is on a roll with her third consecutive break as Raducanu struggles to hold her serve in the windy conditions.
Raducanu Trailing Kasatkina, Serves Next
Sam Smith and Giles are viewing this as a valuable learning opportunity for Raducanu, facing a defensive player who is significantly taller than her.
Raducanu takes advantage of a weak second serve from Kasatkina, who had just made a double fault, by hitting a forehand shot that wins her the point and brings the score to 15-30.
Raducanu successfully hits the ball past her opponent at the net after the Russian lightly taps the ball instead of hitting it strongly, putting her in a position to score a break point. Kasatkina counters with a well-executed forehand shot across the court.
The exciting matchup between Raducanu and Kasatkina is captivating to watch, as they trade advantages and reach a tie in the game.
Raducanu made a mistake with her backhand shot, but she was able to recover and bring the score to deuce with a powerful forehand winner. However, Kasatkina then gained the advantage with a strong serve into the corner, and she managed to hold her position on the court.
Raducanu Trailing 2-6, 1-2 Vs. Kasatkina
Is the situation changing? Raducanu unexpectedly wins a couple of points she thought would go out, and Kasatkina hits a wild backhand return, giving Raducanu a 40-love lead.
Maybe not... Kasatkina takes the next point by patiently waiting for the overhead shot to bounce high off the baseline and then hitting a powerful drive volley for a winner.
A costly mistake happens at a critical point, making the score 40-30, followed by an inaccurate shot. Annabel Giles refers to this strategy as "slow-balling" when Kasatkina intentionally slows down the pace. Surprisingly, the Russian player turns the game around from being at a disadvantage to having the upper hand by using her height disadvantage and spin to confuse Raducanu once more.
Kasatkina makes a comeback after losing the previous game when Raducanu hits a forehand shot wide to the right, causing silence in the crowd.
Raducanu Vs Kasatkina Tennis Match Score
Is this a weak spot for Kasatkina as she gives up two break points with a double fault. Raducanu is unable to capitalize on the first chance as her backhand return goes wide.
However, she quickly recovers and retaliates with a fantastic backhand shot down the line while bending her knees.
Raducanu Trails To Kasatkina
Kasatkina hit a strong backhand shot to even the score at 15-all, but then made a mistake with her forehand and hit the ball out. Raducanu gained momentum with a powerful serve down the middle, but then made an error by hitting her forehand shot into the net after the Russian's blocked return.
Facing Kasatkina's defensive skills is incredibly challenging. She doesn't give her opponent any opportunities to take control of the game, forcing them to generate their own power, which can be tiring. And when her opponent makes a mistake, she quickly seizes the opportunity to hit a forehand winner.
Raducanu made a mistake with the wind when the score was tied and then her drop shot hit the net.
Loss of serve.
Raducanu Trails Kasatkina By 4 Games
Mistakes are still present in Emma's game as she struggles against the wind at the end of the match. The BBC commentators believe that Kasatkina is feeling a bit unsettled, but the Russian manages to win the game with some powerful forehands and a strong serve.
Next Server Is Kasatkina In Raducanu Match
Kastakina easily handles Raducanu's serve to take a commanding lead of love-40 before Raducanu surprises the crowd with a powerful crosscourt forehand shot.
Radders used a similar shot, but this time he aimed lower to win another point and bring the score to 30-40. He then pressured Kasatkina into making a mistake by hitting a shot too soon, causing the ball to go out of bounds.
Two. After saving three opportunities for her opponent to win the set, Raducanau then gives her another chance after being tricked by a spinning, delicately hit return with reduced speed.
Raducanu successfully protects herself by staying in the rally, patiently waiting for her opponent to make a mistake. She takes advantage of Kasatkina's low backhand shot by using it to score a point in her favor.
As we continue watching, Raducanu hits a forehand shot out of bounds, but quickly recovers with an impressive one-handed backhand drop shot that makes the ball swerve wickedly.
And able to construct a point when she stands at her second serve, Kasatkina forcefully hits the return into the net.
Raducanu Leads 1-5 Against Kasatkina
Raducanu skillfully hits a one-handed backhand drop shot in response to Kasatkina's powerful sliced forehand, bringing the score to 15-all. However, Kasatkina's second serve forces Raducanu to the edge of the court, allowing her to hit a winning forehand shot down the opposite line.
Raducanu makes a great return but is ultimately defeated when her opponent catches her off guard with a powerful forehand shot. The British player was caught off balance and unable to return the ball.
Raducanu has faced a challenging time so far, quite humbling.
Raducanu Trails Kasatkina By 3 Games
Raducanu misses a powerful shot, hitting the net post, as she falls behind in the game. The wind is causing her skirt to flutter like a sail, but she regains her composure and executes a beautiful backhand shot to surprise her opponent and win the point.
Raducanu scored a point with a strong first serve and a well-placed shot, but then lost the next point because Kasatkina changed up her strategy by mixing up the spin, trajectory, and speed of her shots. The score is now tied at deuce.
Kasatkina made a bold move by charging toward the net and securing the advantage with an impressive volley. The ball appeared to be out of reach but she managed to hit it with her racquet held vertically.
Once more, the Russian player wins the point as Raducanu's forehand doesn't make it over the net on her second serve return.
Raducanu Leads 1-3 Against Kasatkina
Kasatkina is managing the wind well behind her and wins the game easily without losing any points, causing Raducanu trouble with her strong forehand shots.
"Raducanu Trails Kasatkina* 1-2* "
Beautiful shot from Raducanu to win the first point, quickly reacting to Kasatkina's weak drive volley with a powerful backhand winner. Unfortunately, her next shot hit the net. Her first serve is affected by the wind, causing it to go long, and she commits a double fault trying to adjust, bringing the score to 30-all.
Kasatkina continues to target the center of the court, looking for errors from Raducanu instead of giving her the opportunity to unleash her strong shots from the sides. The British player then misses a backhand shot, prompting Kasatkina to make a similar mistake.
In a tied score with the wind in her favor, Raducanu hits a backhand shot that goes out of bounds. However, she saves the break point by making Kasatkina move all the way to the corner of her advantage court, running around to hit a powerful forehand shot that leads to a winning smash.
Kasatkina once again seizes the opportunity with a perfectly placed backhand that lands on the line, resulting in Raducanu getting broken after hitting a forehand shot that goes too far.
Raducanu Ties Kasatkina 1-1
Raducanu, sporting a long-sleeved top in the windy conditions, sends a backhand shot wide after hitting the net cord. She then misses with two forehands, allowing Daria to take a 40-love lead. Even her forehand at 40-15 falls victim to the strong wind, making it tough to accurately gauge the breeze from her position near the main camera.
"Raducanu Leads 1-0 Against Kasatkina"
Kasatkina chooses to receive after winning the toss. Both players approach the net for the first point, and Raducanu emerges victorious after a long rally when Kasatkina's drop shot goes out of bounds.
Raducanu continues to impress by winning the following two points with powerful forehands on the returns, then serves an ace down the middle to hold her serve without losing a single point. It's an ideal beginning.
Raducanu Receives Massive Applause On Entry
The two remaining British players in the quarter-finals, Boulter and Harriet Dart, have been eliminated. Leylah Fernandez defeated Dart in a quick match lasting 67 minutes with a score of 6-2, 6-1.
Jasmine Paolini Wins Game, Set, Match
She dominated the match with a 6-1, 7-6(0) victory. Now she's advancing to the semi-final tomorrow where she will face the winner of the Raducan vs Kasatkina match.
This means that the second quarter-final match is expected to begin in approximately 15 minutes.
Paolini is dominating the match with a 5-0 lead and is now preparing to serve.
Boulter Avoids Break Point
To take a 6-5 lead in the second set, Paolini continues to challenge her opponent closely throughout the set. Despite losing her serve at one point, she has managed to maintain her ground up to this point.
To even the score in the second set at 4-4. The windy conditions are making it difficult to anticipate where the ball will land after the serve.
Paolini Breaks Boulter In Second Set
Boulter is serving against the wind and is ahead 4-2.
Boulter's Strong Start In Second Set
The initial three matches of the second round have been evenly matched, with Boulter currently in the lead with a score of 2-1.
Paolini Wins First Set With Closed Out Hold
She triumphs with a score of 6-1. The player who reached the final of the French Open is currently ranked at number 7 in the world. However, Boulter is ranked 25 spots lower.
Boulter Struggles In The Windy Conditions
She has lost the match for the second time, and Paolini is leading 5-1 while serving for the first set.
Latest News On Boulter Vs Paolini
The match was evenly balanced as I began writing, but Boulter is struggling to find consistency with her first serves. The strong crosswind is causing problems with her ball toss, affecting her composure. As a result, Boulter double faults twice and is broken by Paolini, who now leads 3-1.
In the main stadium, Billy Harris of Britain has just won against Flavio Cobolli with a score of 7-6, 6-7, 6-2. Next up was supposed to be Raducanu vs Kasatkina, but now we have Katie Boulter facing off against Jasmine Paolini. I will do my best to keep you informed while also handling other responsibilities. If Boulter vs Paolini starts at 2pm, then our match could begin anywhere between 3.15pm and 4.15pm.
Raducanu Faces Ongoing Testing
Hello and welcome to the live broadcast of Emma Raducanu's quarter-final match against Daria Kasatkina at the Rothesay International in Eastbourne. Raducanu showed great determination yesterday by saving a match point and coming back to defeat the No 2 seed and world No 5 Jessica Pegula 4-6, 7-6, 7-5. This was her most impressive victory in 30 months. Kasatkina also had a tough match against Yuan Yue, going to three sets, but the last set was a breeze as she won 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.
Kasatkina is ranked 14th in the WTA rankings currently. She reached the finals of the Adelaide International and Abu Dhabi Open this season as she continues her climb back up the rankings after a successful year in 2022. While she excels on clay courts, she has also shown her skills on grass, finishing as a runner-up at Eastbourne last year and reaching the semifinals in Solihull in 2021. Kasatkina has faced Raducanu only once before, defeating her 7-5, 6-4 on the hard courts in Ostrava two years ago.
Competing in front of a home crowd in Nottingham two weeks ago and again here has been a great advantage for Raducanu. She felt the energy of the fans yesterday and credits them for helping her through tough moments in the match. "I feel exhausted right now, but I want to express my gratitude to everyone for their support," she said, looking forward to another positive experience today.
"It's really tough playing against someone as good as Jessica, especially when she's on top form. After her strong performance in Berlin, she's probably feeling pretty confident on the grass court. I'm proud of how I handled some difficult moments during the match. At one point, I wasn't sure if I could turn things around, so this match definitely holds special meaning for me."
I have been dealing with some challenges recently, so to overcome them feels really good.
The tournament bracket has been challenging due to her frequent injuries in the last year and a half. However, making it to the quarter-finals has proven her ability to bounce back. Today's match will provide a clearer picture of how much she has improved and what her future potential may be, regardless of the result.
