Emma Raducanu crashes out of Madrid Open after first-round defeat to qualifier Maria Lourdes Carle
Emma Raducanu suffered a disappointing first-round exit at the Madrid Open after she was comfortably beaten by qualifier Maria Lourdes Carle.The 21-year-old had arrived at the tournament in upbeat mood, having reached the quarter-finals in Stuttgart a week ago to back up her strong performances in leading Great Britain to victory over France in the BJK Cup Finals.
But there was little sign of those clay-court positives for Raducanu here, as the Briton was beaten 6-2 6-2 by Carle in the opening round.
Raducanu had been drawn to face Karolina Pliskova, but the former world number one withdrew due to injury and it was instead Carle on the other side of the net, after the Argentine came through two qualifying rounds. Carle raced into a 3-0 lead in the opening set and Raducanu was unable to ever really get into the match, broken six times on an afternoon to forget.
Opportunity KNOCKS
Qualifier Maria Lourdes Carle defeats Raducanu in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/3HegiZqFsN
— wta (@WTA) April 24, 2024
Speaking ahead of the match, Raducanu admitted she was struggling with fatigue after her busiest spell since returning to the court in January.
The 2021 US Open champion withdrew from Madrid Open a year ago and subsequently spent the rest of the season on the sidelines, following surgery on both wrists and an ankle, and made her return in Auckland at the start of 2024. Raducanu beat Caroline Garcia and Diane Parry in the BJK Cup earlier this month, and followed it up days later with victories over Angelique Kerber and Linda Noskova in Stuttgart, before losing to world number one Iga Swiatek.
“I’m trying to learn how to manage energy levels,” Raducanu said.
“I’m not going to deny that I am tired. But I think that’s it just accepting that you’re not going to feel 100 per cent and try to save everything for the fight, because the mental side can get you over the line.” Harriet Dart followed Raducanu in being knocked out of Madrid in the first round, as Cristina Bucsa beat the Briton 6-4 6-4. Dart, who won two qualifying matches to reach the main draw, led the second set 4-0 and appeared to be on track to level the match, but lost six games in a row to fall to a straight-sets defeat.
