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Emma Raducanu put injury worries behind her to make a winning start at the Australian Open and set up a blockbuster second-round meeting with Coco Gauff.
The 20-year-old former US Open champion had a twisted left ankle in Auckland 11 days ago, but grew in confidence in the match and cruised to a 6-3 6-2 victory over Tamara Korpatsch in her opening match in Melbourne. Parking after 25 minutes.
“I’m just happy to get through. Everything I’ve done has been controlled enough last week to test it in a real match and with the unpredictability, I’m used to it at the beginning. but, it feels good,” said Raducanu about the ankle.
“For me to go out there, like I might like all the hard work we have done to get myself here.”
Seventh seed Gauff, who beat Katerina Siniakova 6-1 6-4, will present a very different challenge as she looks to emulate Raducanu by winning a Grand Slam.
Although he is more than a year younger than Raducanu, Gauff has played three and a half years on the main tour, climbing into the top 10 and creating a solid base that his next opponent is still looking for.
Given a warm welcome at the mid-sized 1537 Arena, Raducanu initially seemed hesitant to serve and circle backhands.
The crunch moment of the first set came in the seventh game after Raducanu had twice been pegged back from a break ahead.
The British number 1 has taken an aggressive approach under new coach Sebastian Sachs and is trying to seize the initiative on her forehand.
It paid off when he secured another break, clenching his fist in the direction of his team, and it started a run of six games in a row that put him in full control of the contest.
By now putting more weight behind his backhand and looking confident in his game plan, Raducanu completed the victory when Korpatsch pushed his forehand long.
Coco Gauff eased into the second round with a win over Katerina Siniakova at Rod Laver Arena
Looking ahead to play the 18-year-old Gauff on Wednesday, Raducanu said: “I’m really looking forward to this match. I’m up for it. Coco has obviously done a lot of great things and he played well. I’m just looking forward to matchup.
“I think we are both good, young players, we are both coming through. Part of the next generation of tennis really. It will be a great match.”
Kyle Edmund was eliminated by the 15th seed from Italy, Jannik Sinner
There was no good news for Kyle Edmund, who lost 6-4 6-0 6-2 to the 15th seed. Jannik Dosa when returning to Melbourne Park.
Sidelined for the past two years after undergoing three knee surgeries, former semi-finalist Edmund is playing here for the first time since 2020.
But at the US Open, when Casper Ruud played, the fate of the draw was not on Edmund’s side and the Italian Sinner, one of the best young players in the world, proved too much.
“I like the conditions. Obviously if you play in the stadium for me, it’s easier, the court is a bit slower,” said Dosa.
“It’s a bit difficult outside, but when you make the quarter-finals at any Slam, it means you like the conditions, so I’m very happy to be back here.”
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