Emma Raducanu ran out of steam as her 2022 French Open dream was ended in the second round by Aliaksandra Sasnovich on Wednesday.
The British number one looked in fine shape after an excellent first set, but she was unable to maintain that early momentum and slipped to a 3-6 6-1 6-1 defeat.
Belarussian Sasnovich, the world number 47, had emphatically won their only previous meeting 6-2 6-4 in Indian Wells last October in Raducanu’s first match after winning the US Open.
But a pumped-up Raducanu broke her opponent in the fifth game of the opening set.
Sending Sasnovich wide whenever possible, the 19-year-old unleashed a couple of fearsome backhands and finished the job with a blistering forehand.
A second break wrapped up the opening set.
Then a wobbly start to the second, including a pair of double-faults –– her first of the match –– saw Sasnovich snatch a double-break and a 4-0 lead.
Raducanu’s winners had by then dried up, as she hit just four to Sasnovich’s 19 in a stinker of a set as the 28-year-old from Minsk levelled the match.
A reset was required and, after a quick departure from the court, Raducanu reached 30-30 on the Sasnovich serve only to dump a backhand into the net.
It prompted her into covering her face with her racket in frustration.
Nevertheless, the fist pumps were back as she saved a break-point to hold for 1-1.
But game three was to prove pivotal, with Sasnovich fending off five break-points amid seven deuces to hold.
Moments later Raducanu, mistimed a forehand and found herself a break down.
Sasnovich was now in complete control with Raducanu unable to stem the flow of winners.
She went on to run away with the set and reach the third round for the first time. (NAN)
