Emma Raducanu's return to competitive tennis was cut short at the Madrid Open as she faced a tough defeat against Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk. The match, which ended with scores of 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, saw Raducanu struggle to maintain her momentum after a promising start in the second set.

Raducanu, who had taken a month-long break from competitive matches, showed signs of a comeback but ultimately couldn't overcome the pressure from the 24th-seeded Kostyuk. This loss marks a disappointing exit for Raducanu, who was looking to build on her recent performance at the Miami Open.

The day proved challenging for other British players as well. Katie Boulter was defeated by sixth seed Jasmine Paolini with a score of 6-1, 6-2, and Sonay Kartal fell to Elina Svitolina, the 17th seed, with a score of 6-3, 6-1. These results mean that no British players remain in the WTA 1000 event.

Kostyuk's victory sets her up for a third-round match against Veronika Kudermetova, promising more exciting tennis action at the Madrid Open. Meanwhile, top seed Aryna Sabalenka advanced comfortably, and eighth seed Zheng Qinwen faced difficulties in her match against Anastasia Potapova.

In other news, Spain's Paula Badosa withdrew from the tournament due to a back injury, leaving fans disappointed as she was set to face Kudermetova in the second round.

As the Madrid Open continues, all eyes will be on the remaining players as they vie for the title in one of the most prestigious tournaments in the tennis calendar.