DISAPPOINTMENT! Emma Raducanu Stunned by Chinese Qualifier Xinyu Wang at WTA Linz Open 2021

The success at her second Grand Slam main-draw appearance had put British teenager Emma Raducanu on top. The 18-YO garnered millions of fans through her flawless performance at the US Open 2021. Naturally, her unexpected success invited loads of expectations surrounding the youngster.

Post her New York triumph, Raducanu failingly played a couple of other tournaments. Firstly, she lost 2-6, 4-6 in the first round to Aliaksandra Sasnovich at Indian Wells. Then, at the recently concluded WTA Transylvania Open, the Brit lost in the quarters to contemporary Marta Kostyuk.

As a result of these losses, her final tournament of the year gathered much attention as fans wanted to see Raducanu lift another title. At the Linz Open, Raducanu faced the Chinese qualifier Xinyu Wang.

Emma Raducanu lost the first set but bounced back to clinch the second in a tie-breaker

Emma took time to settle into the court as Wang showed complete domination against her. By the start of the second set, the Brit began to find her range and started giving stiff competition to her Chinese opponent.

When the second set went to a tie-break, the reigning US Open champion played it to pitch perfection and clinched it, 7-6.

The decider was all about both players not losing their serve. The duo produced enthralling display of tennis to not allow any breaks of serve but it was the Brit who showed signs of vulnerability late into the decider.

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Serving at 4-4, Raducanu’s service game was exploited by Wang as she got the break of serve and was just a service game away from reaching the pre-quarters. But, the teenager showed absolute courage on her return game and took it to deuce.

Xinyu Wang pulled off an epic upset in a roller coaster third set

Wang had a match point but couldn’t convert it owing to the resilience from the British youngster. It was a tightly contested game as Raducanu managed to level the score, 5-5.

Just when the Brit could’ve forced another tie-breaker, Wang decided to quickly close the match and once again broke Raducanu’s serve.

Having to serve for the match once again at 6-5 in the decider, the Chinese youngster made sure to cross the line this time as she stunned Linz Open’s top seed Emma Raducanu, 6-1, 6-7, 7-5.

As Raducanu is still attending various events and meeting new players on the WTA tour, each defeat will be a learning curve for the Brit to rise her game to the top level.

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