Emma Raducanu fell on the first hurdle of the Miami Open following defeat to Bianca Andreescu.
Raducanu, trying to construct on her run to the fourth spherical of final week’s BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, was out of types early on as her Canadian opponent eased into the lead by taking the primary set 6-3.
However, Raducanu, 20, raised her efficiency within the second – which included a marathon 21-minute recreation – to take the match to a deciding set.
But Andreescu proved too robust and too constant for the British primary as she noticed out a 6-3 3-6 6-2 victory.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, staring down the barrel of a quickfire defeat following a poor opening set the place she managed simply three winners.
An early break despatched Andreescu, 22, on her manner earlier than she broke Raducanu for a second time within the ninth recreation to take the opening set in 44 minutes.
But Raducanu, ranked 72 on the planet, 41 locations decrease than her opponent, emerged the higher participant for the subsequent set with the pivotal second arriving in an epic seventh recreation on the Hard Rock Stadium, residence of the Miami Dolphins.
Half-a-dozen break factors got here and went for the British participant, however Andreescu’s valiant defence lastly crumbled after 10 deuces to go away Raducanu in a position to serve out the second set in only one minute shy of the hour.
At that stage, Raducanu appeared the favorite to beat the Canadian, who additionally gained the US Open as an adolescent, two years earlier than the Brit.
But, after saving three break factors within the fourth recreation, Raducanu was unable to do the identical within the sixth as Andreescu secured an important break of serve to maneuver inside two video games of victory.
Raducanu earned a break level within the subsequent recreation however Andreescu discovered a solution to see out the sport earlier than breaking her opponent for a second time within the set to seal her spot within the second spherical in two and a half hours.
“You never know what you are going to expect,” stated Andreescu on courtroom. “I just wanted to play my best with what I had today and I think I did that.
“I didn’t let my negative emotions get the best of me. I was very energetic, positive and I just never gave up and that was the key today.
“Emma played amazing. She is an incredible player and I have a lot of respect for her and her results show how good she is.”