Early exit: Emma Raducanu was knocked out of the Agel Open by Daria Kasatkina
(Picture: Getty Images)Emma Raducanu suffered disappointment at the Agel Open as she was beaten by Daria Kasatkina in her opening match in Ostrava.
There was no sign of any strapping for Raducanu, after he withdrawful during her semi-final against Jelena Ostapenko in Korea ten days ago due to more injury problems.
In the Czech Republic, the British number one produced some good moments against her Russian opponent, ranked 11th in the world and the fifth seed at the tournament, but she paid for too many errors in a 7-5 6-4 defeat.
Raducanu recovered from a loose start to lead 3-2 in the first set, and looked to be the one applying more pressure until Kasatkina broke through to lead 5-4.
The teenager responded well with a break of her own only to drop serve again, and this time Kasatkina - who has been the most outspoken Russian player against the invasion of Ukraine - clinched the set.
The second set was again tight but Raducanu snatched at several shots in a poor service game to drop serve at 2-2, and was unable to get back on level terms.
World number one Iga Swiatek is among those in action in Ostrava, though she has been handed a tricky opening match. The Pole, in her first match since winning the US Open last month, will face Australian Aja Tomjlanovic.
“This tournament could be tough because I haven’t played any matches in three weeks,” Swiatek admitted.
“And coming back after winning a Grand Slam is always tricky. But tennis-wise I feel that I’m ready.”
There was better news for British tennis fans as Harriet Dart was a 6-2 6-4 winner against Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz at the Jasmin Open in Monastir, Tunisia.
