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Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 18, 2023 USA’s Coco Gauff with England’s Emma Raducanu after winning their second round match REUTERS/Loren Elliott
MELBOURNE—Coco Gauff defeated Emma Raducanu 6-3 7-6(4) on Wednesday to reach the third round of the Australian Open, but not before the two prodigies gave fans a glimpse of what’s to come in women’s tennis. after the first biting clash.
Much was expected of French Open runner-up Gauff, who is 18 years younger than Raducanu but has yet to taste the Grand Slam success the Briton enjoyed as a teenager, and the seventh seed saved three break points to win a controlled first set. .
Given a prime-time slot at Rod Laver Arena after the retirement last year of champion Ash Barty and 23-time major champion Serena Williams, the torch bearers of the new era pushed each other hard before Gauff edged ahead in the second set.
After returning from an ankle injury suffered in the warm-up event in Auckland, Raducanu was worried by an abs problem after being beaten at 2-1 and Gauff attacked, before fighting off a late attack by the Flushing Meadows 2021 champion to win.
Amazing performance 👏
No. 7 seeds @CocoGauff beat Emma Raducanu to reach the third round!@wus • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/6CXLQOYq90
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2023
“I just told myself to hang in there,” Gauff said in an interview in court. “Emma played some really good tennis at the end of the match and the whole match was really good.
“In the beginning, we both started rocky, but I think the match was of good quality for the most part. Considering the situation, we were both nervous.
“It’s a match we’ve been waiting for since the draw, so I’m glad it went well for you.”
The victory – American Gauff’s 100th on the WTA Tour since her professional debut four years ago – also made her the first female player to reach the milestone before the age of 19 since former Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki in 2009.
For Raducanu, it means he has been waiting to reach the third round of a Grand Slam since his US Open victory went on, as the world number 77 struggled on the big stage amid injuries and coaching changes.
His participation in this year’s first major appears to be in doubt after an ankle problem, with Raducanu saying he is “speeding up” his recovery.
“Kudos to Emma – she’s had a tough week in Auckland,” added Gauff. “So it’s good that he can play at this level after such a scary time.”
Gauff next took the championship from the match between American Bernarda Pera and China’s Zheng Qinwen, hoping to win and match his best run at Melbourne Park three years ago.
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