By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday October 8, 2021
Emma Raducanu fell to Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus in her first match since winning the US Open.
Photo Source: Getty
Emma Raducanu’s first competitive match since she stormed to the US Open title without dropping a set in September ended in a 6-2, 6-4 loss to Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus, the World No.100.
It was a strong effort from the former World No.30, who was making her fourth career appearance at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Raducanu was only able to win five of 21 second-serve points and surrendered five breaks of serve against the 27-year-old.
After a tough opening set Raducanu actually recovered to take a 4-2 lead in set two, but then dropped the next four games to end her first appearance at Indian Wells in 85 minutes.
“I understood that I needed to go on court, I needed to show my tennis, to play my game, to play 100 percent,” Sasnovich told the crowd. “I know that Emma just won the US Open – I lost there in the first round so it’s a little bit different.
“I tried to do my best, I just came to enjoy, I love tennis, I love to be here – it’s my life.”
Sasnovich advances to face Simona Halep in the third round.
With the loss, Raducanu drops to 10-4 on the season, and 10-4 lifetime. The Brit has only played four events at the tour-level to date.
More to follow….