Emma Raducanu was swatted out of the way in double-quick time on her first clay-court appearance of the season. She managed only three games before going down to Jelena Ostapenko – the 2017 French Open champion – in just 59 minutes.
This was Raducanu’s third straight defeat, and it leaves her win-loss record at a moderate 5-4 for the year. Her ranking fell 15 places to No 83, as she lost the 100 points that she had received for reaching the quarter-finals in Stuttgart last season.
Were she to suffer another first-round exit in Madrid next week, Raducanu would probably drop out of the top 100 for the first time since she scored her miraculous US Open victory in 2021. It is even possible – although unlikely – that she could end up needing a wild-card invitation to play at Wimbledon.
While Ostapenko’s 26 winners flowed like fine wine, Raducanu’s shots had little penetration on this unusual indoor clay court. As a result, she amassed a mere six winners of her own in the course of her 6-2, 6-1 thrashing.
This was a lesson in how to play in slow conditions – but not one that many players are equipped to emulate, for Ostapenko comes equipped with thunderous power. The way to deal with her is to move her around, but Raducanu never established any foothold in the match, and merely ended up playing the perfect foil.
Towards the end of the match, Raducanu tried to dial up her aggression, stepping in on the returns and looking to impose herself. But Ostapenko applied a little extra kick to her serves, making the ball climb awkwardly off the clay, and Raducanu was unable to cope. In any case, this was a late adjustment which felt more like a desperate roll of the dice than a likely winning strategy.
The quality of Ostapenko’s ball-striking was a little unexpected, as she has endured an indifferent start to the season. But then, as Ostapenko told the on-court interviewer after the match, she feels most comfortable on clay. And Raducanu, at this stage of her career, is the sort of player who gives her opponents rhythm. With her confidence low, Raducanu has been hitting a medium-paced ball rather than a heavy one, and neither is she spreading the court with sharp angles.
There was no visible strapping on Raducanu’s wrists, but on the basis of this disappointing performance, one wondered how much training she has been able to do. It may be that her wrist tendinitis is continuing to restrict her preparations. Her serve – which had been working well in Indian Wells last month – was particularly ineffective, with Ostapenko slamming returns for winners almost at will.
Raducanu declined to represent Great Britain at last weekend’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against France, on the grounds that she didn’t want to aggravate her wrist condition by going straight from hard courts to clay without a period of acclimatisation. At least she will have almost a week to prepare for Madrid, and would be well advised to spend that time getting used to the altitude.
Raducanu loses in Stuttgart: as it happened
08:35 PM
Ostapenko speaks…
I think I played really well and didn’t give her many chances. I knew of course she’s a great player and it would be a tough match. I’m always ready for a battle. It’s great to be back in Stuttgart. It’s a really nice atmosphere here.
08:25 PM
Dominance underlined
Raducanu won the first six points of the second set; Ostapenko went on to win the next 17.
The Lavtian held all seven games on serve and six were break-point free . Won 80 per cent of her first-serve points, 74 per cent of second serve points and converted five of fiev break point opportunities.
08:24 PM
The thoughts of our own Uche Amako
Brutal loss for Raducanu, blasted off court by Ostapenko in 58mins. In Emma’s defence, few players would’ve coped with the outrageous power from Jelena. But Raducanu isn’t playing enough to build confidence & must consider playing qualifiers and/or WTA 125 events #PorscheTennis https://t.co/UtZJuIA96k
— Uche Amako (@UcheAmako) April 18, 2023
08:22 PM
Jelena Ostapenko. Just. Too. Good
08:19 PM
Tough to know what to make of that
Strange match for Raducanu there. She came up against a player who perhaps can;t play any better than she did. Ostapenko’s relentless hitting would have given even the very best in the world problems tonight and with that in mind losing is no disgrace.
That said, sloppiness from the Briton did little to aid her cause and the fact she had no answers for the Latvian or even a plausible Plan B is concerning.
08:14 PM
Ostapenko beats Raducanu 6-2, 6-1
The hitting is relentless from Ostapenko and bordering on impossible for Racucanu to deal with.
She fights back there though, yelling ‘come on’ as she gets to 30-15. But that’s a poor error from the Briton, she’s been outclassed today but those sorts of errors do not help.
More breathtaking tennis from Ostapenko, who, with a superb return, brings up match point.
Game, set and match
08:10 PM
Raducanu* 2-6, 1-5 Ostapenko (*denotes next server)
Ostapenko jogs to the back of the court to get this next game going. She wants this over quickly.
The Latvian goes long with a forehand, bringing a small punch of the air from Raducanu but she can do little to thwart her opponent here. This is the kind of form that bought Ostapenko a French Open.
A big ace down the tee gets Ostapenko to 40-30 but she then goes long with a forehand and we get to deuce – an opening maybe?
Brilliant winner from Raducanu and she has her first break point – one she simply must take. Ah but that’s wild as she’s deceived by a kicking second serve before Ostapenko brings up game point with a neat backhand.
She holds and Raducanu now will serve to stay in the match.
08:04 PM
This is a proper hammering so far…
…nothing else.
08:03 PM
Raducanu 2-6, 1-4 Ostapenko* (*denotes next server)
In this kind of form, Ostapenko is a top-five player in the world and Raducanu simply isn’t at that level yet and she’s running out of time to save this match.
She’s down 0-30 in this latest service game as the match continues to race away from her. Wow…Ostapenko with a devastating winner down the line off a reasonable Raducanu second serve.
She breaks the very next point. Double break, four games in a row and two games away from the second round.
08:00 PM
Raducanu* 2-6, 1-3 Ostapenko (*denotes next server)
Raducanu is trying to match Ostapenko with her hitting and it simply isn’t working when the Latvian is in this kind of form.
She needs to mix it up a bit and try to get her opponent off balance.
Second serve ace from Ostapenko gets her to 40-0, that sort of sums up this match so far really.
She holds.
07:56 PM
Raducanu 2-6, 1-2 Ostapenko* (*denotes next server)
That was a timid end to that last game from Raducanu and she’s under pressure quickly on serve, down 0-30 after yet another thunderous forehand return from Ostapenko.
Hmmm…wild from Raducanu and that’s three break points for the Latvian, who needs only one.
After a good start, Raducanu is staring down the barrel here.
07:53 PM
Raducanu* 2-6, 1-1 Ostapenko (*denotes next server)
Raducanu wins six points in a row at the start of the second set, getting to 0-30 on the Ostapenko serve before going long with back-to-back forehands to return us to parity at 30-30.
Ostapenko brings up game point with a delightful clipped forehand on the angle. She holds.
07:49 PM
Raducanu 2-6, 1-0 Ostapenko* (*denotes next server)
It’s tough to say Raducanu was bad in that first set but what was clear was that she could not match the level bought by Ostapenko.
Better signs early in the second set though, as Raducanu races to 40-0 with some clean hitting and clever, angled serving.
She holds to love. Positive signs.
07:45 PM
Ostapenko takes first set 6-2
Can Raducanu punch back in this first set?
Ostapenko starts on the front foot, forcing the error from the Briton but she goes wide with an acute-angle forehand to bring us to 15-15.
In a blink of an eye Ostapenko has two set points after a wild Raducanu forehand. There it is, the first set goes to Jelena Ostapenka inside 30 minutes.
07:40 PM
Raducanu 2-5 Ostapenko* (*denotes next server)
Raducanu bouncing on her toes in between points as she tries to find something here. Ostapenko has two easy looks to start the game but misses both. Might that end up being her kryptonite?
She then climbs into a backhand return which Raducanu simply can’t get back. Feast or famine, most feast, for Ostapenko so far.
Good from Raducanu, who holds with a wide ace.
07:36 PM
Raducanu* 1-5 Ostapenko (*denotes next server)
Big ace from Ostapenko to start the game. She’s been simply superb so far and has been too good for Raducanu in this opening set.
She holds to love and Raducanu will serve to stay in this first set.
07:34 PM
Raducanu 1-4 Ostapenko* (*denotes next server)
Raducanu is relying on Ostapenko errors at the moment to keep her in this first set…but she’ll certainly take them.
The Latvian misses twice on mid-court forehands to allow the Briton a 30-15 lead before she hammers a forehand down the line. It’s winner or error at the moment for Ostapenko.
Break point Ostapenko after Raducanu goes long with a forehand of her own. The Latvian makes no mistake.
That’s a double break in this first set.
07:29 PM
Raducanu* 1-3 Ostapenko (*denotes next server)
Raducanu needs to find a way to get on terms in these rallies. Ostapenko looks to have a clear power advantage that the Briton needs to strategise against.
That’s not going to help as she finds only fresh air with a backhand slice…surely due to a bad bounce. At least we must hope that’s why.
Ostapenko takes full advantage, racing to 40-15 after yet another forehand winner. A double fault from the Latvian…40-30, before Raducanu nets.
07:24 PM
Raducanu 1-2 Ostapenko* (*denotes next server)
Raducanu is already looking to gee herself up here. She looks motivated early on.
The hitting from both players is heavy in the early stages as both exchange points early in the game thanks to big forehands.
Ostapenko brings up break point after two more forehand winners. She really is punishing anything in mid-court from Raducanu.
Same recipe again…a big forehand return and Ostapenko breaks.
07:20 PM
Raducanu* 1-1 Ostapenko (*denotes next server)
An incredible cross-court winner from Ostapenko answers Raducanu back immediately. A very comfortable hold ensues.
07:18 PM
Raducanu 1-0 Ostapenko* (*denotes next server)
A big ace from Raducanu gets us underway, a lovely start, before the Briton shows excellent scrambling skills to keep herself in, and win, what looked an unwinnable point.
A powerful forehand winner brings an excellent first game for Raducanu to a close.
07:15 PM
Here we go
Raducanu will get us underway.
07:10 PM
Raducanu wins the toss…
…she opts to serve first.
07:07 PM
Here come the players
A very elaborate light show combined with what can only be described as highly foreboding music greets Emma Raducanu and Jelena Ostapenko out onto Centre Court in Stuttgart.
A strange melange of techno and metal…not especially ‘tennis’ but there we go.
06:56 PM
Game, set and match
Tatjana Maria triumphs over Ylena In-Albon 6-2, 4-6, 7-6. Emma Raducanu follows on Centre Court.
06:47 PM
Stuttgart latest
We’re going to a third-set tie-break here between Maria and In-Albon…
06:45 PM
More from Raducanu
I think it’s a very nice arena for tennis and provides a great atmosphere. It plays a bit faster than an outdoor clay court, such as Rome, and I think it suits my game. The tournament is a super way to begin the clay season. So hopefully it sets me up well and helps the transition to clay.
06:39 PM
Stuttgart latest
We’ve gone to 5-5 in the decider between Tatjana Maria and Ylena In-Albon. Quite the match on Centre Court in Stuttgart.
Emma Raducanu vs Jelena Ostapenko follows this match.
06:16 PM
Raducanu on clay
Last year’s clay court season was one of fits and starts for Raducanu. She made the third round of this event and at the ensuing Madrid Open but then failed to make an impact in either Rome or at French Open in Paris.
Way too early yet to ascertain whether clay might help or hinder her natural gifts.
06:07 PM
Stuttgart latest
Home-favourite Maria and In-Albon remain on serve in this decider. The German leads 3-2 at present.
05:57 PM
Raducanu’s last outing
05:42 PM
Latest from Stuttgart
The match between Tatjana Maria and Ylena In-Albon has gone to a deciding third set on centre court in Stuttgart.
Raducanu will be on court once this match has concluded.
05:21 PM
Unconvincing Ostapenko
Much like Raducanu, Ostapenko has endured an uneven form to date this year. A few early exits at the start of the season stand in stark contrast to her performance at the Australian Open, where she made the last eight before losing to Elena Rybakina.
Since, her form has been fairly poor, with early exits in Abu Dhabi and Doha before she got to the third round in Dubai.
05:15 PM
Head-to-head
Not a huge amount to go on here, with Ostapenko beating Raducanu in the pair’s only previous clash, in the semi-finals of last years’ Korea Open.
To be specific, Raducanu actually retired mid-match on that occasion.
05:03 PM
‘I like to test myself against the best’
Emma Raducanu speaks ahead of her third-round match:
The tournament always attracts the world’s top players. The strong field means there’s some great tennis to be seen and good competition. Personally, I like to test myself and compete with the best players in the world, so it’s a challenge I enjoy.
I haven’t played on clay since the last clay court season but I’m looking forward to it again. I’ve already had my first practice sessions. Last year was my first real experience on clay and I was pleased with my progress so it will be fun getting back playing on clay.
04:59 PM
‘She can go for the title’
Markus Gunthardt, Stuttgart tournament director, on Raducanu ahead of the event:
She’s after all a Grand Slam winner which is not something many players can say. She’s not considered to be a clay court specialist, but if things go her way, she can go for the title despite the tough competition.
04:51 PM
Tricky draw
This is one of the best fields for a WTA event so far this season, with nine of the top ten in the world descending on Stuttgart.
As such, an easy draw is something of a misnomer here but still, Raducanu might be cursing her luck a little.
Not only has she drawn Ostapenko in the first round but lying in wait for the winner is world number three Ons Jabeur.
Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek could come next.
One word…tough.
04:45 PM
The challenge of clay
Modern-day tennis puts stresses and strains on the body irrelevant of surface but it will be fascinating to see how Raducanu’s body and conditioning hold up on clay.
Longer, energy-sapping rallies will become her norm for the next few months and thus present a different set of physical challenges to a young player who has found staying fit her biggest obstacle to date.
04:42 PM
Burgeoning British talents
Away from the senior tours and somewhat closer to home, the next generation of British talent locked horns last week in the Junior National Championships in London.
In the girls’ U18 final, Isabelle Lacy beat Hannah Klugman 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a tight, rain-interrupted final, while Luca Pow proved too good for Oliver Bonding in the boys’ final.
Both Lacy and Pow receive automatic wild cards into qualifying for this summer’s Wimbledon Championships.
04:37 PM
The reality facing Raducanu
Injuries and misfortune notwithstanding, Raducanu’s results this year have not borne the fruit she would have been hoping for.
She has not got beyond the round of 16 in any of the four events she has played in this year and while there have been flashes of brilliance, these have too often been drowned out by numerous inconsistencies.
With the French Open on the horizon, now is as good a time as any for a sustained revival.
04:31 PM
Emma’s back
By Dylan Taylor
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Emma Raducanu’s meeting with Jeļena Ostapenko on day two day of the WTA Stuttgart Open.
The Round of 32 meeting offers Raducanu the opportunity to test herself against world No 10 Ostapenko, who she last faced in last year’s Korea Open before the the Briton was forced to retire through injury.
Following multiple injury setbacks this season, Raducanu has a chance to bounce back this evening by knocking Ostapenko out of the tournament. The winner will then meet third seed Ons Jabeur – who the 20-year-old practiced with over the weekend.
On paper, 2017 French Open winner Ostapenko should enjoy the conditions on the clay courts of Stuttgart, but historically she struggled well at the Stuttgart Open. Raducanu, meanwhile, has only played in it once, putting in a very decent effort against Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals last year.
Ahead of the match, the British No 1 said: “I had a great experience last year and played well, it’s a fun tournament and very well run so I’m really looking forward to returning to Stuttgart.
“The tournament always attracts the world’s top players. The strong field means there is some great tennis to be seen and good competition. Personally, I like to test myself and compete with the best players in the world, so it’s a challenge I enjoy.
“I haven’t played on clay since the last clay court season but I’m looking forward to it again. I’ve already had my first practice sessions. Last year was my first real experience on clay and I was pleased with my progress so it will be fun getting back playing on clay.
“It plays a bit faster than an outdoor clay court, such as Rome, and I think it suits my game. The tournament is a super way to begin the clay season. So hopefully it sets me up well and helps the transition to clay.”
Stay with us for live updates, build-up and action from Stuttgart.
Source: Emma Raducanu hammered by Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart
