US Open champion Emma Radukanu begins her season with a heavy loss

British teenager Emma Radukanu gave herself a smile as she avoided whitewashing, but still suffered a major loss at the Sydney International from Russian-born Kazakh star Elena Rybakina.

Radukanu, 19, was returning to competition for the first time in 2022, but lost in straight sets to the mighty Rybakina in less than an hour at the Ken Roswell Arena in Sydney Olympic Park.

The ninth seeded rival dominated Britain 6-0, 6-1 in just 55 minutes of play.

amphatic

Elena Rybakina’s first tennis stroke to set up a clash with Garcia by crossing Radukanu!#sydneytennisclassic pic.twitter.com/lXMlkYt9oh

— WTA (@WTA) 11 January 2022

Raducanu avoided eventual tennis notoriety of at least a 6–0 6–0 loss – known as the “double bagel” – by scoring a match in the second set, which turned his smile horribly. . And pumped the fist in the direction. of his team.

Emma Radukanu finally avoids a double bagel. Oof.#sydneytennis pic.twitter.com/3uiAu7PO6L

— tennis gifts (@tennis_gifs) 11 January 2022

But it was nonetheless an irate way for Radukanu to start the season, less than a week before the start of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

The girl stunned the world at last year’s Grand Slam when she dropped out of qualifying to win the US Open, becoming the first British woman in 44 years to win a major singles title.

Since then, Radukanu has experienced a steep learning curve as she aims to cement her position among the female elite while being celebrated as a national heroine in the UK and awarded lucrative sponsorship deals.

Known for her big bangs, world number 13 Rybakina gave her another lesson on Tuesday, though some onlookers defended Radukanu, claiming the match provided the kind of power she had in her nascent career. Haven’t experienced it yet.

Elena Rybakina has been playing very well as she beat Emma Radukanu 6-0, 6-1 in 55 minutes to reach the second round in Adelaide.

Emma’s first game in 2022 was not ideal. pic.twitter.com/5WgsHn8AEc

— Jose Morgado (@josemorgado) 11 January 2022

Big smile for Emma Radukanu, stopping a double bagel with a 0-6, 1-3 hold against Rybakina.

Like @tumcareol Turns out, by an order of magnitude, Rybakina is the biggest hitter Radukanu has ever faced.

Radukanu still has many new experiences to come in his early career.

— Ben Rothenberg (@benrothenberg) 11 January 2022

Others attempted to project the unrelenting defeat as a natural part of the development process for Canadian-born Radukanu, noting that his victory at the US Open was a unique upheaval.

Remember that Emma Radukanu is a Tour newbie.

it will take time.

— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) 11 January 2022

Recall that if Emma Radukanu had not won the US Open, we would say what an achievement it is that she qualified for Sydney and the Australian Open.

— Charlie Eccleshare (@CDEccleshare) 11 January 2022

Elena Rybakina 6-0, 6-1 Emma Radukanu

53 min.

Very nice Rybakina.

Radukanu recalled how difficult the game is at this stage. it will take time.

— Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) 11 January 2022

Radukanu’s end of the year was interrupted by a positive Covid test, which saw him withdraw from the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Dubai in December – a result that resulted in the teenager being withdrawn from the inaugural event of the Melbourne Summer Set Down Under season as he thought it was again “Very early” Return.

Tuesday’s comeback and heavy defeat was Radukanu’s first game under new coach Torben Beltz, and the German is hoping he and his manager can turn things around quickly for the teenager entering the game at the Australian Open.

Rybakina, 22, will face France’s Caroline Garcia in Round 16 in Sydney.

The Moscow star had a good start to 2022 at the Adelaide International after reaching the final last weekend, where she was beaten by home favorite and world number one Ash Barty.

Read more: “Where did you see him?” On the cover of Vogue: English coach grilled for ‘sexist’ comments by Raducanu