‘Head held high’: Raducanu refuses to be critical after early Australian Open exit

Emma Raducanu waves farewell to her Australian Open hopes after a second-round defeat by Anastasia Potapova. Photograph: Rachel Bach/Shutterstock

Emma Raducanu refused to be too critical of herself after crashing out in the second round of the Australian Open because of her injury-ravaged preparation for the tournament.

The British 28th seed had been hoping to set up another meeting with the world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka but she faded from a promising position and fell to a 7-6 (3), 6-2 defeat against Anastasia Potapova.