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Emma Raducanu out, Cameron Norrie progresses at French Open

Raducanu out, Norrie progresses at French Open
© Reuters
British number one Emma Raducanu suffers a second-round exit at the French Open, but Cameron Norrie advances to round three.

Emma Raducanu's French Open debut ended in the second round as she suffered a three-set loss to Belarus' Aliaksandra Sasnovich on Wednesday.

The British number one went the distance against Linda Noskova in round one, but her luck was not in against Sasnovich despite a bright beginning.

Raducanu broke for 3-2 in the first set and powered her way to an early advantage, but the 19-year-old suffered a dramatic collapse which saw her win just two games in the next two sets.

Sasnovich took all of 33 minutes to take the second set and level the match at 1-1, with both players squandering numerous opportunities to break on the day.

Raducanu then missed five break points as Sasnovich held for a 2-1 lead in the third set, and the fatigued US Open champion had seemingly run out of ideas after a double break.

Sasnovich advanced to the third round for the first time courtesy of a 3-6 6-1 6-1 success, adding to her Indian Wells Masters triumph over Raducanu in 2021.

"I'm very happy to win. It was a very tough match and after the first set I didn't even think I could win so took it point by point," the world number 47 said during her on-court interview.

"I'm happy and mentally I was ready to play point by point. I love France and hopefully next time they will support me. For Emma there was more as she is a Grand Slam champion and a great player. I had Covid a few months ago so I didn't prepare for the clay season but you feel the atmosphere more now."

Cameron Norrie pictured at the French Open on May 25, 2022© Reuters

Sasnovich will now take on Angelique Kerber in round three, but there was success for Great Britain over on Court 6 as Norrie booked his spot in the third round.

Off the back of triumphing at the Lyon Open, Norrie added to his first-round win over Manuel Guinard with a second consecutive straight-sets victory, this time over Jason Kubler.

However, Norrie did not secure his 6-3 6-4 6-3 victory without digging incredibly deep, with Kubler holding well before returning wide of the tramline from a smash in the first set.

The Australian qualifier managed to save one set point in the first before Norrie ultimately clinched it, and a double fault handed the Brit an immediate break in the second set.

The world number 161 just about managed to avoid a double break to reduce the deficit to 2-1, and he made things interesting with a break back to level the scores in the second.

A tight set ultimately went the way of Norrie as he confidently moved 2-0 to the good with a backhand winner, but the world number 11 was on the verge of a collapse in the third set.

Kubler stormed into a 3-0 lead but then failed to win any of the next six games, with Norrie producing a remarkable comeback to work his way to match point and advance.

Russia's Karen Khachanov now awaits Norrie in the third round, and victory would see him advance to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

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Emma Raducanu pictured at the French Open on May 23, 2022
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