Raducanu’s Paris campaign cut short
Sasnovich knocks out US Open champion
US Open champion Emma Raducanu was knocked out of the French Open yesterday, losing to Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 in the second round.
The British 12th seed, making her professional debut this year at Roland Garros, had also lost to 47th-ranked Sasnovich at Indian Wells in 2021 in her first match since her shock US Open victory.
“After the first set, I thought I couldn’t win so I just played it point by point,” said the 28-year-old Sasnovich.
Raducanu hit 33 unforced errors and paid the price for not converting five break points in the third game of the decider.
Sasnovich will be playing in the third round in Paris for the first time.
Former Grand Slam champions Angelique Kerber and Victoria Azarenka advanced to the third round.
Kerber, who won her first clay title in six years on the eve of the French Open, defeated French wildcard and 2020 junior champion Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) as she seeks the only Grand Slam missing from her collection.
The German 21st seed next plays Sasnovich.
“I think the last week was really important for me to get the title,” former world No.1 Kerber said of her Strasbourg triumph.
“I had a lot of confidence. It’s great to be back here and I hope I can still play a few more matches.
“When you achieve everything you want, you play for the love of the game. I just love the sport. Let’s see how long I can keep playing at a high level.”
Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open winner, beat 2014 Roland Garros semi-finalist Andrea Petkovic
6-1, 7-6 (7/3). She meets Swiss 23rd seed Jil Teichmann for a place in the fourth round.
Meanwhile, two-time former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray said yesterday the tournament “will never
feel like an exhibition” despite it being stripped of ranking points over the ban on Russian and Belarusian players.
The decision by the ATP and WTA to remove the sport’s most prestigious tournament of ranking points has
prompted some players to say they may skip Wimbledon, the year’s third Grand Slam.
“I’d hazard a guess that most people watching on centre court Wimbledon in a few weeks’ time wouldn’t know or
care about how many ranking points a player gets for winning a 3rd round match,” tweeted Murray.
“But I guarantee they will remember who wins. Wimbledon will never be an exhibition and will never feel like an exhibition.”
Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka has revealed she is “leaning towards not playing” Wimbledon while defending champion Novak Djokovic said he will play despite losing 2,000 points.
The controversy has showed no signs of abating, with several players at the ongoing French Open likening Wimbledon to a high-profile exhibition event this year.