Raducanu made encouraging progress final 12 months, climbing again into the world’s prime 30 and taking part in extra matches than in any earlier season.

This defeat means she has nonetheless solely gone previous the third spherical of a Grand Slam as soon as since her beautiful US Open triumph as a teenage qualifier in 2021.

Nonetheless, the low season technical work she deliberate to place in with coach Francisco Roig – who helped Rafael Nadal win 16 of his 22 main titles – was compromised by a foot damage.

When Raducanu returned in 2026, a tweak to her forehand – a better and longer takeback, designed so as to add extra spin – was clear.

However she appeared to lack belief within the shot in opposition to Potapova, touchdown 70% of her forehand returns in – in comparison with 96% from her opponent – and making 19 unforced errors off that wing.

“I wish to be taking part in a special means. The misalignment with how I am taking part in proper now and the way I wish to be taking part in is one thing I wish to work on,” mentioned Raducanu.

Errors got here from all features of Raducanu’s sport in opposition to Potapova, with the Briton saying afterwards she didn’t really feel “very nicely” from the beginning.

It confirmed in a subdued efficiency. In addition to seeming to lack belief in her photographs, her temper was flat and barely interacted along with her assist field or the gang.

It’s the first time because the 2022 US Open, when she was nonetheless eleventh on the planet, that Raducanu has been crushed by a lower-ranked participant at a serious.

“I simply wish to hit the ball to the corners and arduous. I really feel like I am doing all this selection, and it is not doing what I need it to do,” she added.

“I want to simply work on taking part in in a far more just like how I used to be taking part in after I was youthful.”