Emma Raducanu, the reigning US Open champion, faced a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 defeat against Danka Kovinic in the second round of the Australian Open. Despite entering the tournament as the 17th seed and winning her first-round match against Sloane Stephens, Raducanu struggled with blisters on her right hand. After initially securing a double break, she lost momentum and dropped key games in the first set. Despite a strong comeback to level the match in the second set, Raducanu required hand treatment once again before the third set.
Kovinic, ranked No. 98, capitalized on her opportunity, securing the victory with a backhand winner down the line after having two match points on serve. This marked Kovinic’s first appearance in the third round of a Grand Slam tournament.
In another surprising turn of events, the No. 3 seed Garbiñe Muguruza exited the Australian Open after a 6-3, 6-3 defeat against Alize Cornet in the second round. Muguruza, a two-time Grand Slam champion, expressed disappointment in her level of play, citing inaccuracies and a lack of aggressiveness. Cornet, ranked 61st, celebrated her unexpected victory, calling it a perfect gift on the eve of her 32nd birthday.
Additionally, No. 6 seed Anett Kontaveit suffered a 6-2, 6-3 loss to 19-year-old Clara Tauson of Denmark. Tauson, making her debut in the third round at a major, expressed confidence but not pressure in her approach. Other notable victories included No. 7 Iga Swiatek, the 2020 French Open champion, and No. 31 Marketa Vondrousova, the 2019 Roland Garros runner-up, who advanced to the next round with convincing wins.