Emma Raducanu dumped out of Canadian Open in 'cheating' grudge match

Emma Raducanu was trounced 6-2 6-1 by Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova in the third round of the Canadian Open. The Brit had won both of their previous meetings, but in somewhat controversial circumstances. However, there was no doubting the result in Montreal, with Raducanu holding her serve just once in a dominating performance from Anisimova.

At the Australian Open in January, Raducanu felt the wrath of Anisimova's fans, as she was branded a cheat for her actions during the match. While trailing 3-0 in the first set, she called for a medical timeout to receive treatment for a lower back issue. She then won six matches in a row to prompt complaints that she had signalled for the physio simply to stop her opponent's momentum.

Raducanu rallied to victory in the first Grand Slam of the year, prompting one critic to complain on X: "She's a cheater!! Running around winning three games after a MTO on a hip? Please!!! Faker." And another commented: "This is flat out cheating by the way."

She did back that performance up with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Anisimova at the Miami Open two months later, before Anisimova got her revenge in Montreal.

Anisimova came from 40-15 down to break Raducanu's serve in the second game of the match and, although the new British No 1 broke back immediately, she was unable to bring about another break point in the contest that lasted a little over an hour.

To be the first to receive the latest tennis news, join our WhatsApp community or newsletter

Showcasing the form that saw her beat Aryna Sabalenka in the Wimbledon semi-finals, Anisimova dominated the second set. Raducanu won just eight points on her own serve and only narrowly avoided being bagelled.

She will face 10th seed Elina Svitolina in the last 16 after her 6-1 6-1 victory over Anna Kalinskaya.

The performance from Anismova marks a huge turnaround from her previous encounters with Raducanu. While Stateside, she was beaten so roundly that Annabel Croft had concern for the American.

"She is all over the place," Croft said of Anisimova on Sky Sports commentary. "That sigh says it all. Fed up out here. Not enjoying this. She's being humiliated."

Anisimova hit 29 winners on the night to 25 unforced errors, while Raducanu was able to hit just five winners against 22 unforced errors.

The new world No. 7 has now won 14 of her last 17 matches on the WTA Tour since the start of the grass court season, the most by any player in that span, claiming her 29th victory in a row when she has taken the first set.