Emma Raducanu ignored desperate plea from team to pull out of Australian Open

GMB: Greg Rusedski defends Emma Raducanu

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Emma Raducanu’s Australian Open debut ended in the second round after losing to Danka Kovinic in three sets on Thursday, but some members of her team begrudgingly wanted it to end sooner. The British No 1 pulled off an impressive victory over Sloane Stephens in the first round two days ago.

But Raducanu was unable to repeat the feat against Kovinic with some blistering on the teenager’s hand clearly playing a role.

The 19-year-old was pictured last week having her right hand treated by her team for blisters during practice.

Against Stephens, there didn’t appear to be any bandage on the same hand.

But it was clearly causing an issue against Kovinic as Raducanu called for a medical time out during the first set.

After several minutes of having her hand treated and re-bandaged, Raducanu returned but Kovinic won five consecutive games to follow before taking the first set.

A second medical time out was called by the reigning US Open champion midway through the match with Raducanu effectively playing with just a backhand at times to help strengthen her grip on the racket.

Despite the discomfort, Raducanu rallied to force a deciding set and had numerous opportunities to win the match.

In total, there were an incredible 13 breaks of serve in the match and it proved to be an unlucky number for Raducanu as the 13th last came at a crucial time in the third set with both players struggling for any rhythm.

Kovinic eventually held out to serve for the match and progress into the third round, ending Raducanu’s journey Down Under.

But Raducanu has admitted that “some people in my team maybe didn’t want me to play”.

Asked why she ignored pleas from some members of her team to pull out of the tournament, Raducanu admitted that it’s not in her nature.

She said: “I fought so hard just to come out to Australia and play here, so I just left it all out there on the court.”

As well as utilising her backhand more often to have a stronger grip, Raducanu also noticably opted for a sliced forehand to avoid putting too much pressure on her blister.

“I think anyone that knows me knows I do not hit slice forehands,” she added.

“Probably hit more in that match than I have in two, three years. That was definitely one thing I learned, that nice slice forehand is not so bad and I have some sort of hand skills.

“That was a positive surprise, I would say, for myself. But also, I was just proud of how I kept fighting even in those situations where I was, I’m really struggling here, I can’t really do much, but I just kept hanging in there.”

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