SYDNEY: US Open champion Emma Raducanu’s Australian Open warm-up event lasted simply 55 mins after she used to be thrashed 6-0, 6-1 by way of Elena Rybakina on the Sydney Global the previous day. The nineteen-year-old Raducanu took the tennis global by way of hurricane in September when she received the United States Open as a qualifier. She opted to not play remaining week’s Melbourne Summer time Set event after getting better from COVID-19, that means her remaining likelihood for some fit observe forward of the Open used to be at this week’s Sydney Tennis Vintage.
However she used to be blown off court docket by way of the robust Rybakina, who completed runner-up to Ashleigh Barty finally week’s Adelaide Global. The 1.80-metre tall Rybakina used to be awesome in each and every division and had a long way an excessive amount of firepower for Raducanu. Rybakina raced in the course of the first set in 24 mins with out shedding a sport and received the primary 3 video games of the second one set sooner than her opponent finally held serve. However that used to be merely a brief reprieve, with Rybakina successful the following 3 video games to underline her general dominance.
Previous, Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Belinda Bencic stated she felt “a little bit bit wobbly” in her first fit after COVID as she started her warm-up for the Australian Open with a low-key win. The 24-year-old Swiss cruised into the second one around with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Brazilian qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia. However Bencic, who shriveled COVID in mid-December after competing at an Abu Dhabi exhibition, admitted she had no longer been at her easiest, with the primary Grand Slam of the 12 months beginning on Monday.
“I used to be suffering a little bit bit, attending to observe after COVID for the reason that pulse used to be getting up and the fatigue used to be nonetheless there,” stated Bencic, a former global quantity 4 however now ranked twenty third. “I believe I nonetheless have room to really feel higher and my health has to recover. “I nonetheless really feel a little bit bit wobbly and so I believe there’s nonetheless possible, however I’m satisfied that I will be able to play this event.” She is going to now tackle Oceane Dodin of France within the subsequent around. Dodin, a fortunate loser from qualifying, beat Mexican doubles specialist Giuliana Olmos 6-4, 6-1. International quantity 20 Elise Mertens additionally moved in the course of the first around with a comfy 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) win over France’s Fiona Ferro.
The Belgian will tackle Daria Kasatkina of Russia in the second one around. However Jessica Pegula, ranked two puts beneath Mertens at 22 on the earth, used to be overwhelmed by way of France’s Caroline Garcia 6-4, 7-6 (7/3). Within the males’s draw, former global primary Andy Murray demolished Norwegian qualifier Viktor Durasovic 6-3, 6-1 in simply 71 mins. Murray, who used to be given a wildcard this week after his first-round loss in Melbourne remaining week, used to be a long way too sturdy for the erratic Durasovic, who hit 23 unforced mistakes to Murray’s seven.
The Scotsman, now ranked 135 on the earth following a run of debilitating accidents going again to 2018, has additionally been given a wildcard to subsequent week’s Australian Open, the place he has been runner-up 5 instances. He stated the shape he confirmed towards Durasovic gave him self belief for the Open. “I imagine I will be able to have a excellent run there and who is aware of, if I will be able to in finding somewhat of shape and the draw opens up?” the 34-year-old requested. Previous, 6th seed Dusan Lajovic of Serbia used to be too sturdy for Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, successful 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.- AFP