Top seed Emma Raducanu lost 6-2 6-4 to world No. 204 Taylah Preston in Hobart.
Raducanu struggled with serve — four double faults and just three holds from nine service games.
Preston advances to the Hobart semi-finals, dealing Raducanu a blow ahead of the Australian Open.

Preston shocks top seed at Hobart International

Taylah Preston produced a confident performance to beat Emma Raducanu 6-2 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Hobart International, dealing a surprise defeat to the British number one in the final event before the Australian Open.

Match details and turning points

Preston, ranked 204th in the world, played aggressively and took advantage of Raducanu’s inconsistencies on serve. Raducanu committed four double faults and managed to hold only three of her nine service games, failing to convert two separate two-break leads in each set.

In the opening set Raducanu fell behind 4-2 after missing a key backhand on serve. She recovered at times but could not sustain momentum. Early in the second set Raducanu built a 3-1 lead, saying to coach Francisco Roig that Preston’s shots were coming at her “so fast”, but she lost three service games in succession as Preston closed out the match.

What this means for Raducanu’s Australian Open build-up

The loss leaves Raducanu with limited match practice heading into Melbourne. She will travel to the Australian Open with just one win at the Hobart event and only a handful of competitive outings this season after an off-season disrupted by a foot problem.

Raducanu is scheduled to be seeded 28th in Melbourne and opens her Australian Open campaign against Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew. A potential third-round meeting with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka looms if both progress.

Preston’s rise and what comes next

For Taylah Preston the victory is a major career moment. The Australian will move into the semi-finals at Hobart, having taken advantage of home conditions and fired a combination of pace and consistency that troubled the top seed throughout.

Preston’s win will boost her confidence and ranking points as she pushes forward this season, while the result will give tournament organisers and fans another rising local player to watch in the lead-up to the Grand Slam in Melbourne.

Quick reaction

Coach Francisco Roig’s encouragement — “let it rip” and “don’t be static” — was audible during the match but Raducanu could not convert those moments into a comeback. Preston, calm under pressure, closed the match in straight sets.

Raducanu and Preston will both take different lessons from the match: Raducanu must find service stability and match rhythm before the Australian Open; Preston will look to build on a high-profile win and carry the momentum into the Hobart semi-final.

Image Referance: https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/ce8r7xz1e01o