By Sam Drury.
Emma Raducanu is out of the Auckland Classic after falling to a 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 defeat by second seed Elina Svitolina in the second round.
The Briton, playing her second match since wrist and ankle surgeries, raced into a 5-1 lead in the first set before taking it in the tie-break.
Svitolina won the second after another tie-break and, with Raducanu tiring, took the third in just 31 minutes.
Next up for Raducanu is the Australian Open, which begins on 14 January.
The 2021 US Open champion was playing with fairly heavy strapping on her right thigh but went toe to toe with world number 25 Svitolina before fading after an intense first two sets that each lasted more than an hour.
“I can take away that I played a high level for two long sets,” Raducanu said.
“I’m proud of how quickly I was able to get my level up, as Elina gives you nothing.
“To be able to play like I did for two sets, in my second match back… the level was raised really quickly.”
While Raducanu’s focus turns to the first Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne, Svitolina progresses to the Auckland quarter-final where she will play Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova.
Raducanu will receive direct entry into the main draw for the Australian Open following American Lauren Davis’ withdrawal with a shoulder injury.
Encouraging signs in defeat for Raducanu
After a hard-fought victory over Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round, this was another gruelling encounter for Raducanu as she continues her return from injury.
The 21-year-old began well to go a double break up but was twice unable to convert when serving for the first set.
However, she showed her resilience in the breaker, setting up her first set point with a drop shot and – after a double fault – converting the second with a deft forehand.
Svitolina came fighting back at the start of the second with Raducanu saving two break points in the opening game, only for Ukraine’s former world number three to convert the third.
Raducanu broke back immediately, but Svitolina made it three games against the serve in a row to restore her advantage.
Again, Raducanu hit back though with another break to make it 3-3 and from there it stayed on serve to set up another tie-break.
The Briton went up 3-1 before Svitolina reeled off six straight points to level the contest and never looked back.
Raducanu was showing signs of fatigue with two unforced errors gifting Svitolina a pair of break points in the first game of the third set. They were repelled, with a third saved with an ace, but a double fault eventually gave Svitolina the break.
There was no way back for Raducanu, who looked understandably weary after a long injury absence from the tour, and an energised Svitolina ruthlessly finished the job.