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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
James Whaling

Emma Raducanu crashes out of French Open in second-round defeat to Aliaksandra Sasnovich

Emma Raducanu is out of the French Open after a three-set defeat to world No.47 Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

The US Open champion took the first set 6-3 in impressive fashion, showing glimpses of the form that saw her burst on to the scene at Wimbledon and claim an incredible maiden Grand Slam triumph at Flushing Meadows.

But her Belarusian opponent - who will not be at SW19 next month owing to the ban on players from Russia and Belarus - hit back in the second set, taking it 6-1.

Both players held serve in the opening two games of the decider, but Raducanu missed five break points in the third which opened the door for her rival.

Sasnovich broke in the next game and saw out the set 6-1, booking her place in the third round.

The 28-year-old had emphatically won their only previous meeting, 6-2 6-4 in Indian Wells last October in Raducanu's first match after winning the US Open.

But a pumped-up Raducanu broke her opponent in the fifth game of the opening set. Sending Sasnovich wide whenever possible, the Brit unleashed a couple of fearsome backhands and finished the job with a blistering forehand.

A second break wrapped up the opening set before a wobbly start to the second, including a pair of double faults - her first of the match - saw Sasnovich snatch a double break and a 4-0 lead.

Raducanu's winners had dried up; she hit just four to Sasnovich's 19 in a stinker of a set as the Minsk native levelled the match.

Sasnovich dropped just two games after losing the first set (Getty Images)

A reset was required and, after a quick departure from the court, Raducanu reached 30-30 on the Sasnovich serve only to dump a backhand into the net, prompting to cover her face with her racket in frustration.

Nevertheless, the fist pumps were back as she saved a break point to hold for 1-1.

But game three was to prove pivotal, Sasnovich fending off five break points amid seven deuces to hold, and moments later Raducanu mistimed a forehand and found herself a break down.

Sasnovich was now in complete control with Raducanu unable to stem the flow of winners, and she went on to run away with the set and reach the third round for the first time.

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