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Australian Open: Teen sensation Emma Raducanu out in second round, Daniil Medvedev ends Nick Kyrgios hopes

Australian Open Teen sensation Emma Raducanu out in second round Daniil Medvedev ends Nick Kyrgios hopes
Elsewhere, returning former world No.1 Andy Murray was also eliminated on Thursday

Emma Raducanu departs the Australian Open. Credits: Image - Getty Images; Video - Newshub

US Open champion Emma Raducanu was bundled out of the Australian Open in the second round as she was beaten 6-4 4-6 6-3 by Montenegro's Danka Kovinic on Thursday.

The 19-year-old British sensation was hampered by a blistered racket hand from early in the first set of a tense contest on Margaret Court Arena but showed great fighting spirit to stay in contention.

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With her usually powerful forehand reduced to a slice, Raducanu let slip a 3-0 lead to lose the first set.

But she played on her 98th-ranked opponent's nerves to break at 4-4 in the second and take the match into a decider.

Kovinic showed great composure to forge ahead in the deciding set, resist a Raducanu fightback, and then move 5-3 ahead as the British youngster finally looked a little weary.

A stunning backhand winner sealed victory for the 27-year-old Kovinic as she moved into the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time. 

Elsewhere, world No.2 Daniil Medvedev put an end to the Nick Kyrgios show, dumping out the mercurial local hope with a clinical 7-6(1) 6-4 4-6 6-2 victory to reach the third round.

A capacity 50 percent crowd cheered on every Kyrgios point at a floodlit Rod Laver Arena but despite their fanatic support, the Australian maverick could not find a way past the US Open men's champion, who showed nerves of steel.

Nick Kyrgios during his loss to Daniil Medvedev.
Nick Kyrgios during his loss to Daniil Medvedev. Photo credit: Image - Getty Images

An inspired Kyrgios forced a break of serve in the third set to take the match into the fourth but Medvedev, who is the highest-ranked men's player remaining following Novak Djokovic's deportation, soon regained control.

A double break in the fourth set made it look easy for last year's Australian Open finalist and he will next meet 57th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands for a place in the fourth round.

Meanwhile, Andy Murray's long-awaited return to the Australian Open was brought to a disappointing end when the three-time Grand Slam champion was ushered out of the tournament 6-4 6-4 6-4 by world No.120 Taro Daniel.

Perhaps still feeling the effects of his gruelling five-set battle in the opening round on Tuesday, the 34-year-old Scot looked out of sorts as his inspired Japanese opponent bounced along the baseline firing winner after winner.

Former world No.1 Murray showed no more than flashes of the brilliant tennis that got him to five Australian Open finals as he made 34 unforced errors over the first two sets on John Cain Arena.

To the delight of the crowd, Murray edged ahead at 2-0 in the third set but Daniel broke back immediately and 45 minutes later had booked his first Grand Slam third-round tie against Steve Johnson or Jannik Sinner.

Reuters

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