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Raducanu took a “physical and mental” break after reaching the Miami Open quarter-finals last month and the opening round in Madrid on Wednesday was her first competitive match since.<\/p>\n
It also marked a first win on the outdoor clay in almost three years.<\/p>\n
But on Friday, competing in just her 18th competitive clay-court match, the former US Open champion had to claw her way back from a break down for 3-3 in the first set before immediately dropping her serve again after two double faults for Kostyuk to take the opener.<\/p>\n
Raducanu, who continues to work with coach Mark Petchey on an informal basis, improved in the second set, winning four games in a row on her way to forcing a deciding set.<\/p>\n
But a poor opening game from the Briton set Kostyuk up to race to victory and book her place in the third round, where she will meet Veronika Kudermetova.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, top seed Aryna Sabalenka comfortably beat Anna Blinkova 6-3 6-4 but eighth seed Zheng Qinwen struggled in a 6-4 6-4 defeat by Anastasia Potapova.<\/p>\n
Spain’s Paula Badosa has withdrawn from the tournament with a back injury.<\/p>\n
The world number nine had been due to take on Veronika Kudermetova in the second round.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n