Emma Raducanu reveals biggest positive from Elina Svitolina defeat and makes confession about injury hell

Emma Raducanu reveals biggest positive from Elina Svitolina defeat and makes confession about injury hell

Emma Raducanu has revealed she was pleased by her performance despite her defeat to Elina Svitolina at the ASB Classic on Thursday.

 

The Briton was making just her second appearance after missing eight months through injury.

 

However, she lost the second set tie-break before Svitolina won the final set 6-1 to book her place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

 

Emma RaducanuEmma Raducanu has opened up after her defeat to Elina Svitolina at the ASB ClassicGETTY

Raducanu was happy with the way she performed in Auckland as the Australian Open creeps closer.

 

And she feels she’s getting back to a high level despite the disappointing result.

 

“Yeah I think I can take away my level was pretty high for two sets,” she said at a press conference.

 

“Two long sets which lasted like two hours 15 and yeah, I’m pretty proud of how quickly I was able to get my level up to be able to compete with Elina.

 

“And yeah, I think that she gives you nothing you really have to win the match and win the set.

 

“Did the exact same, I went for the shots that got me the first set but I just missed them.

 

“So…I mean…that was it.”

 

Raducanu was also asked if she was looking forward to things ‘slowing down’.

 

Yet the 2021 US Open champion said that wouldn’t be the case and confessed she had ‘even less’ time on her hands while sidelined through injury.

 

“Things never slow down for me,” she said.

 

“Some people may have thought with an injury I’d have more time on my hands, but I actually had even less.

 

“So I think it was all good time, my partners have really backed me and supported me even with a year out.

 

“Anything I can do to give back, to give extra, is important to me.

 

“And also just being around them you learn so much you can apply to your own trade, your own industry.”

 

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Emma RaducanuEmma Raducanu was proud of her performance despite losing at the ASB ClassicGETTY

As for Svitolina, the Ukrainian praised the atmosphere and Raducanu after battling her way into the last eight.

 

“It’s a really amazing atmosphere,” she said.

 

“It was a really great match from both of us.

 

“I think Emma played a great match as well. It was really difficult physically.

 

“I’m really happy with the way I handled the pressure moments. Just happy to be here, to start my year here with two wins.”

 

Elina SvitolinaEmma Raducanu earned praise from Elina Svitolina after her defeat at the ASB ClassicGETTY

Sky Sports pundit Naomi Brady, meanwhile, feels Raducanu has ‘a lot of positives to take’.

 

“Loads of positives to take,” she said.

 

“Both of them played above their rankings.

 

“For Raducanu it was the second match she’s played in eight months, first tournament back and her first match was tough as well.

 

“I think it was maybe just a step too far physically but both of them were playing top-10 level today.”