Emma Raducanu could only manage one match against second seed Iga Swiatek, losing 11 straight games in the third round of the Australian Open on Rod Laver Arena.
This equals the defeat she suffered to Elena Rybakina on a WTA tour in Sydney three years ago.
The only previous time Raducanu had played on Center Court at Melbourne Park was against Coco Gauff two years ago, when she acquitted herself well, but Swiatek was simply too good.
Raducanu congratulates Swiatek (right) after their third-round match in Melbourne
“I think it was a match before that, and I knew I had to play really well,” said Raducanu, who has yet to win a set in four matches against Swiatek.
“I think today, thanks to Eija, she played good tennis, but I think it's because she played well and I didn't play well. Maybe that combination wasn't good and it led to today.
“Obviously the outcome was very harsh. I feel like I look back and know exactly what I should have done, and I take it as feedback.”
Having entered the tournament without any warm-up matches after suffering a back spasm – which worsened again during her second-round win over Amanda Anisimova – a third-round showing, Raducano's best here, is by no means a disaster.
She highlighted her serve as the main area she needs to work on if she wants to get closer to the best players after she was broken 16 times in six sets and committed 24 double faults.
The 22-year-old British player, the only Briton to reach the round of 32, said: “Three weeks ago when I was in Auckland I was rehabilitating the swimming pool.”
“I think being on the tennis court and playing matches and competing is something I have to be grateful for.
“I started hitting when I came here 18 days ago. I have to make sure I can beat two of the biggest opponents in the first two rounds. But I think today there are no excuses on the back or physical level.
“I think the thing I want to improve is my serving. In the first two matches I got away with two of the better players because I was able to defend and move, and use the rest of my game.
“If I'm not necessarily able to hold my serve games or dictate things, I feel like that seeps into the rest of my game.”
Swiatek was so slow on serve that she received a time violation before the match started, but then the Pole was in a hurry, as the hot, sunny conditions gave her powerful shots even more excitement.
The British player did her best to hold serve in the opening match but that proved to be for the best, as she was almost flawless on Swiatek while Raducanu was unable to get enough of a first serve.
Her backhand, usually one of her best skills, was also falling apart and Raducano looked like she couldn't wait to get off the court after the 70-minute demolition.
Swiatek is known as a good front-runner, and this is the 26th match in which she has recorded a 6-0 set at a Grand Slam – by contrast, world number one Aryna Sabalenka has only managed this nine times.
The second seed, who is seeking his first title at the Australian Open, said: “I hit some shots and then I thought this is what I train for.”
“I felt like the ball was listening to me. All the tactics and everything I wanted to do, I was able to do. So I kept going. This match was perfect for me.”
“I wouldn't say I'm ruthless. I'm just trying to have the same kind of attitude and the same kind of focus no matter the outcome. But it's not like I want to show something. I'm just playing my game. If it's working, why stop?”
Raducanu was proud of how she handled the occasion despite the result and is keen to get right back to work, with her next tournament scheduled to be held in Singapore in just over a week – Live on Sky Sports Tennis Channel.
“I think one of my goals for this year is to be consistent and go with it,” she said.
“My team will probably tell me to take things seriously. I feel like I have very good things to work on and get feedback. I probably just want to get into this as soon as possible.”
“I feel like I'm speaking from a very rational place. I'm not necessarily very emotional either way.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m tough,” said Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion and 2022 US Open winner. “I just try to have the same kind of attitude and the same kind of focus no matter the outcome.
“But it's not like I want to, you know, show something. I'm just playing my game. If it's working, why stop? I've also seen many games when someone was down like 2-5 or something like that.” “You always have to keep going, it's not over until it's over.”
Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina She joined Swiatek in the round of 16 by defeating Diana Yastremska 6-3, 6-4, but only after receiving treatment for her back, while the eighth seed Emma Navarro And the ninth seed Daria Kasatkina Also advanced.
German Eva is not She became the first lucky loser to reach the women's fourth round since 1988, when she defeated Romanian Jacqueline Christian 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, and her reward was a date with Swiatek.
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