Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter both saw their Australian Open campaigns come to a close in 2024 as they were knocked out in the Second Round to Yafan Wang and Qinwan Zheng, respectively. The defeat means that Raducanu has still yet to progress from this round since her famous US Open win three years ago, and Boulter has not done so at the Australian Open in five years.
Raducanu fails to take chances
Emma Raducanu admitted to feeling a little nauseous during her match against Yafan Wang, something which she described as nothing more than “unfortunate timing” with a stomach bug. However, she ploughed on until the end of a competitive match that was approaching three hours long at its conclusion, and was otherwise happy with her physical shape considering the plethora or injury problems during the last two years.
It wasn’t as if Raducanu was a shell of her former self, either, but she was a little wasteful with critical chances to break Yafan Wang’s serve throughout their match. Under unusually windy conditions, that blew ferociously against one player while simultaneously lifting shots out of play for the other, she was broken during her first service game after a catalogue of unforced errors.
Wang efficiently punished the Brit, and they traded breaks of serve once more before the Chinese player held on to her advantage to take the first set 6-4. The key difference in the match would come shortly after, as when Raducanu had the upper hand, she was nowhere near as efficient with her break points.
She would again go behind early, needing five break points to get back level, and another marathon game to get ahead at 5-3. But even then, Wang prevented the 21-year-old from serving out the set, squeezing another game out of her. Eventually, it would be level at one set apiece.
The difference in chances taken was there for all to see during the deciding set, as Wang broke in the first game. Raducanu again had chances, but could never do the same, losing 6-4. It was more disappointment for the British player whose search for another Grand Slam success goes on.
Qualifier Katie Boulter falls in straight sets
Katie Boulter struggled to get going early on in her match against Qinwen Zheng. In another contest that was disrupted by tremendously windy conditions, Zheng controlled the first set handsomely to take the upper hand.
Boulter was able to strike first in the second, but soon gave up the advantage and eventually, fell behind again. In a seemingly never-ending final game, Zheng sealed the victory with her sixth match point of the game to take the win in straight sets.
The British player felt like she’d played neither her best, nor worst game on the court. In her post-match press conference, she added: “I feel like I can challenge these girls on a daily basis and I hope I get more chances to do that”, after having to qualify for the Australian Open this time around.
These losses mean that there are no remaining British players in the draw at the Australian Open in 2024. It’ll still be a competitive tournament until the end, however, with #1 seed Iga Swiatek and American Coco Gauff among the big names who have progressed to the Last 32.
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