EMMA RADUCANU BEATS WORLD NO 196 AFTER SLUGGISH START AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Emma Raducanu earned the support of the Australian fans – who dubbed her “Raddo” – as she showed her cold-eyed competitive streak to battle through an otherwise forgettable opening match.
Raducanu can be grateful that her seeding protected her from anything too challenging in round one of the Australian Open, because her disrupted off-season has left her short of form and confidence.
Facing world No 196 Mananchaya Sawangkaew, Raducanu got off to a horrible start in which she was bullied around the court by her diminutive opponent: a 5ft 4in Thai who had never played a match at grand-slam level before.
At one stage, Raducanu trailed 1-3, 15-40 on her own serve, with a double-break on the cards. This was the moment when she managed to pull back on the controls and snap out of her steep dive, finding three forehand winners on the next four points.
Sawangkaew had made a nerveless start but now her own forehand began to malfunction. She finished the match with 21 unforced errors to place against just nine winners.
As for Raducanu, she started to look more comfortable as she pushed on to a 6-4, 6-1 victory.
Even so, this was not the most convincing of performances. Her movement was sluggish early on, and her ball-speed was low off the ground. She will need to sharpen up if she is to defeat the dangerous Russian-turned-Austrian Anastasia Potapova on Wednesday.
On the upside, Raducanu now has two full days to work on her game. We should not underestimate how rushed her preparation had been for this match, especially after a delayed flight from Hobart had restricted her to just a single proper practice session at Melbourne Park.
“I’m really proud of myself because I came out here having not played any practice points,” she told reporters afterwards. “My match with [Maria] Sakkari [on January 6] was pretty much the first practice that I played [this season], which is pretty unheard of.
“Having gone through that, and having only had two weeks out here of playing and finding my feet, I’m happy with the level. It gives me confidence that if I keep doing the right things, if I’m able to put chunks of work in and good blocks of practice, I can improve a lot more.”
As for her most vocal fan – who kept shouting out remarks like “C’mon Raddo, stay in control” – Raducanu said that she would love to locate him and invite him back to Melbourne Park for the Potapova match.
“Sometimes what they say ends up being a pretty good point,” Raducanu explained, of her supporters in the stands. “When it’s stuff like, ‘Use your forehand, use your serve’, it’s a good reminder. Sometimes the timing could be worked on and coordinated. Maybe I’ll have a word with him before the next match.”
At least Raducanu was able to get out of Melbourne Park by midnight or so, whereas she might have been there until the wee small hours if Alexander Bublik had taken any longer to dispose of Jenson Brooksby in the previous night-session match.
The efficiency of her comeback allowed her to spend only 71 minutes on court. She was in a buoyant mood by the time she arrived in the interview room, even if she admitted that she would probably find it hard to sleep.
“Tonight, to wind down after a late match, that’s one side that maybe the viewers and spectators don’t understand,” she said. “By the time we finish with our routines afterward, cool down, the adrenalin is so high, to switch off is very difficult. So I’m really excited to have two days off. Given the quick turnaround from Hobart, I think my body will appreciate it.”
Dealing with the quirks of the daily schedule can be surprisingly difficult, as British No 1 Cameron Norrie also pointed out on Sunday. Having arrived at 10am with the expectation of going on court at around 2.30 or 3pm, he was forced to wait until after 6pm when the previous two matches both turned into see-sawing epics.
As Norrie described things: “I was getting my stuff ready, eating, then watching the matches, then eating again a little bit more. Then went to go warm up. Suddenly stop again. I tried to lie down and just chill for a little bit. Definitely some challenges that people were not really aware of.”
Although Norrie admitted to suffering from concentration dips once he had finally begun his match against France’s Benjamin Bonzi, he fought back strongly in the final two sets to win in five: 6-0, 6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Anne Keothavong, on TNT Sports
“I must admit, I was slightly worried after the first few games. At 3-1 and 15-40 down, something clicked for Emma [Raducanu]. Up until that point, she had not won a single point behind her opponent’s first serve.
“But from then on, everything changed and it was all about Emma. Once she got on top of her opponent, she really steam-rolled her and there was only ever going to be one winner. Once she figured out her opponent and loosened up, she was really able to let rip!”
Adjustments
The TNT crew have just been discussing the challenges of playing late at night and the adjustments you have to make. Not just in terms of playing style with the bounce of the ball and the speed the ball travels late at night, but also in terms of eating and sleep patterns. Raducanu spoke in the build-up to this game about playing so late at night and having to wait until the end of a men’s match before getting under way, which did mean that for both players they did not have an exact idea as to when they would get on the court.
Up next
Having won in her first-round match today, Emma Raducanu can look forward to a few days off before she is back in action. She already knows her opponent in the second round, which will be Austria’s Anastasia Potapova on Wednesday. Potapova booked her place in the second round after beating Suzan Lamens in three sets earlier today.
Some stats
Aces: Emma Raducanu 2-1 Mananchaya Sawangkaew
Double faults: 1-4
First serve %: 77%-72%
Win % on first serve: 73%-65%
Win % on second serve: 45%-22%
Break points: 4/4-1/3
Points won: 58-42
Another Briton through
Emma Raducanu has joined Cameron Norrie and Arthur Fery in making the second round. There are still a number of Britons in first-round action over the next couple of days, including Jacob Fearnley, Sonay Kartal and Katie Boulter.
Thoughts of Emma Raducanu
“I feel very happy to have gone through that match. From the beginning I felt she was playing very well, all of her returns and shots seemed to be dropping on the base line, which made life very difficult. I am really proud of how I fought back in the first set and she is playing a way higher level than her ranking is currently so I am sure she will do good things this year. I remember my debut slam was at Wimbledon and I was incredibly nervous. I had such a great run, which set up so many amazing memories for me. She did really well to come out of the blocks firing and I was very impressed.
“The preparation started yesterday, booking the court late, which was the latest I have ever practised just to get used to it, it is completely different to the day, a lot slower, colder, the ball does not travel as fast. I got used to it yesterday. I want to thank everyone for staying out late. It was incredible support on both sides.”
Raducanu through to the second round 6-4, 6-1
Raducanu is serving for the match. Despite losing the first point of the game, Raducanu storms back to go 30-15 up. However, she goes long with her forehand and it is all square at 30-30.
A backhand winner down the line and Raducanu sets up match point. A stunning way to seal her place in the second round with a sublime ace right down the centre.
Raducanu is into the second round 6-4, 6-1.
Raducanu 6-4, 5-1 Sawangkaew*
Sawangkaew is not giving up, although she is right up against it. Her service games were very comfortable earlier in the match but then looked shaky. She has started to regain it in the last couple of games but is pushed in this game. Raducanu fights back from 40-15 down to take it to deuce.
Sawangkaew finds the net and Raducanu has a break point, which she takes after another forehand error from Sawangkaew. Raducanu is one game away from the second round.
Raducanu* 6-4, 4-1 Sawangkaew
Raducanu sends down her first ace of the match that Sawangkaew could get nowhere near. She then moves 30-0 up before suffering her first double fault of the match. Firsts in this game! Sawangkaew then wins the next point and we are all square at 30-30.
However, a forehand winner from Raducanu takes her 40-30 up. She sees out the game to hold serve, taking her to within two games of the second round.
Raducanu 6-4, 3-1 Sawangkaew*
More and more errors from Sawangkaew, especially on her forehand, and she does look like she is tiring whereas Raducanu, despite her foot injury at the tail end of last year, looks to be getting stronger.
Sawangkaew falls 0-30 down on her own serve but fights back to 30-30 and then goes through to hold serve, stopping the rot. Raducanu had won seven consecutive games but that run is ended.
Raducanu* 6-4, 3-0 Sawangkaew
How did Sawangkaew not win that point? She had the chance to bring this game level at 30-30 but somehow Raducanu wins the game with a sublime backhand winner down the line when she looked destined to lose that point.
Sawangkaew then goes long and another game goes Raducanu’s way.
Raducanu 6-4, 2-0 Sawangkaew*
After a lengthy rally, Raducanu wins the point with a sublime backhand winner down the line. If you are Raducanu, surely you have to keep testing Sawangkaew’s forehand.
A fourth double fault of the match for Sawangkaew allows Raducanu to move 0-30 up. Sawangkaew then hits a backhand into the net and Raducanu has three break points, which she takes at the first opportunity.
Raducanu has now won six straight games and looks in complete control of this match.
Raducanu* 6-4, 1-0 Sawangkaew
Raducanu, fresh from winning that first set, will serve at the start of the second. She had no aces in the first set but also no double fault. Sawangkaew had three double faults in set one.
Raducanu races through that game, dropping just the one point, and wins her fifth straight game. Sawangkaew’s forehand is starting to let her down, with errors creeping into her game.
Raducanu takes first set 6-4
Sawangkaew, who a few games ago looked destined to take this first set, has to hold serve to simply stay in it. It is a close game and is level at 30-30 so all to play for.
A great serve down the middle from Sawangkaew pushes her to 40-30 up. Sawangkaew though finds the net on the next point and we move to deuce.
Raducanu’s forehand return hits the net and Sawangkaew has advantage, which she is unable to take after a dominant point from Raducanu.
Sawangkaew goes long, which sets up set point for Raducanu. Can she take it? Yes she can. She was made to work for it and one point looked like dropping the set but takes it 6-4.
“C’mon Radders, stay in control,” came the call from courtside in that last game. She managed to lift her game in the nick of time, but the combination of sluggish movement with medium-paced ball-striking is still producing no more than a moderate level of tennis.
Raducanu* 5-4 Sawangkaew
That is arguably the shot of the match so far as Raducanu sends a backhand winner down the line. You can see visibly the confidence she is starting to gain; plenty of first-pumps.
Sawangkaew only just gets her return back but Raducanu, now displaying more self-belief, hits a forehand back to where Sawangkaew came from and races to 40-0 up.
Sawangkaew goes long and Raducanu moves within a game of taking the first set.
Raducanu 4-4 Sawangkaew*
Can Raducanu get the break she needs? Well, a superb cross-court forehand puts her 15-30 up. Another double fault in this match for Sawangkaew then gives Raducanu two break points and she needs to take them.
A wayward forehand from Sawangkaew gives Raducanu a crucial break and the 28th seed looks like she is settling down a touch.
Raducanu* 3-4 Sawangkaew
Raducanu looked a little shaky at the start of her latest service game, dropping the first point, but races through to 40-15 up. However, a loose backhand gives Sawangkaew hope of staying in this game.
After a lengthy rally, Sawangkaew wins the point and takes us to deuce. Two points ago, Raducanu thought she was easing to holding serve but is now under pressure.
However, Raducanu holds her nerve and serve. The final point comes at the end of a long rally that Raducanu looked like she might mess up despite being under control but takes it.
Raducanu 2-4 Sawangkaew*
This has been a confident start from Sawangkaew, who looks more like the 28th seed thus far than Raducanu.
Sawangkaew rattles though that service game, sealing it with an ace, and is just two games away now from taking the first set.
Raducanu* 2-3 Sawangkaew
Raducanu has no choice but to hold serve to stay in this first set. And it does not help when you fall 0-30 down with some sloppy errors. She does win the next point but, after a lengthy rally which could have gone either way, Sawangkaew sets up two break points, like she did in Raducanu’s previous service game.
Sawangkaew is unable to take the first break point and cannot take the second either. Both of those points for Raducanu were set up by strong first serves, just when she needed them most.
Sawangkaew goes long and Raducanu has advantage, which she capitalises on. She saved two break points and holds serve.
Meanwhile Raducanu’s compatriot Cameron Norrie has just booked his place in the second round after a five-set thriller against Benjamin Bonzi.
This has been a worrying start. Sawangkaew is showing little signs of nerves and despite her tiny stature – 5ft 4in and 115lb – she is doing most of the attacking. Raducanu has been slow around the court, and her serve and forehand are not achieving much penetration. Warning lights are flashing, although that recovery from 15-40 could help give Raducanu a lift. Meanwhile, Norrie is through to the second round.
Raducanu 1-3 Sawangkaew*
So, how does Raducanu respond to being broken early? Well, she is aided by a second double fault of the match from Sawangkaew.
However, Sawangkaew is playing with confidence and Raducanu is struggling with her rhythm at the moment.
Sawangkaew sees out the game, dropping just the one point like she did in her first service game, and moves 3-1 up in this first set.
One area Raducanu can look to target on Sawangkaew’s service games is the second serve, which is nowhere near as strong as the Thai’s first serve.
Raducanu* 1-2 Sawangkaew
Sawangkaew is quite a diminutive player but she is packing a punch thus far and Raducanu is under pressure on serve. Raducanu is playing catch-up through the game and a superb forehand from Sawangkaew sets up two breaks points for the Thai player.
And Sawangkaew secures the break at the first opportunity as Raducanu finds the net. Early pressure on Raducanu.
Raducanu 1-1 Sawangkaew*
A confident start on her first service game of the match for Sawangkaew as she races to 30-0 up but a double fault opens the door for Raducanu. However Sawangkaew shuts that door immediately and eases to the game, dropping just the one point in that game. This is not going to be an easy first-round match for Raducanu based on the first two games.
Emma Raducanu* 1-0 Mananchaya Sawangkaew (*denotes server)
Right, here we go. Raducanu will serve at the start of this first set. How are the nerves for the 28th seed? As our very own Simon Briggs said, what can we expect from Raducanu, considering her lack of match practice over the last few months?
After a lengthy rally, Raducanu claims the first point of the match as Sawangkaew is long with her forehand. Sawangkaew though registers her first point as Raducanu finds the net.
Raducanu hits a great forehand to go 30-15 up but Sawangkaew responds and is keeping Raducanu honest in this first game.
However Raducanu holds her nerve and holds serve. That will settle down any nerves.
What can we expect from Raducanu?
Hello, Briggs here at Melbourne Park. It’s been an interesting day for the Britons so far, with qualifier Arthur Fery knocking out 20th seed Flavio Cobolli - whose tummy bug had left him in need of immodium - in straight sets, and Cam Norrie now locked in a five-setter with Benjamin Bonzi.
I’ve got little idea what to expect from Raducanu’s match. She’s had a scratchy start to the season and has been suffering from technical drift - a condition where your swing changes involuntarily - on both forehand and serve. I’d be very worried if she was facing a more experienced opponent. As it is, Sawangkaew hasn’t played a grand-slam match before. But if she hits her straps, it could still be challenging for a rusty Raducanu.
Here come the players
Both players are introduced onto the Margaret Court Arena. Speaking with TNT’s Laura Robson yesterday, Raducanu was conscious of the wins Sawangkaew has had on the ITF tour and spoke of he own experience of those ITF wins back in 2021, when Raducanu won the US Open.
Raducanu receives a good reception from the crowd as she makes her way onto the court. Time for some warm-ups.
Raducanu on her recovery from her foot injury
“It is definitely a lot better. I have been having to manage it for the last few months but I am really happy with the progress that I have made this year. I came out to Australia not knowing how it would go and now I am in a much better place and just improving day by day.
“I could easily get frustrated about not having the pre-season I wanted. I think it would only frustrate me. After last year being my first real year on tour, I really learned that the season is so long. I just want to try and work my way into this year. Obviously I want this week to go well but I know that I am working on the right things and it will slot into place at some point.
“I started training very, very late on tennis-wise. So, because of that, I feel like I need to kind of take the pressure off myself and not put too much pressure on and expect to be playing amazing tennis.”
Raducanu’s 2025 Australian Open
First round- beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2)
Second round- beat Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-5
Third round- lost to Iga Swiatek 1-6, 0-6
Briton watch
Cameron Norrie is into a fifth set against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi on 1573 Arena so he has a fight on his hands just to reach the second round. Meanwhile the story of the day has to be British qualifier Arthur Fery, who has beaten 20th seed Flavio Cobolli in the first round.
Raducanu on facing Sawangkaew
“I think it is a tricky one because, playing a lot of matches, even if it is at ITF level, and getting a lot of wins, it does so much. I think it is a very dangerous opponent, a very dangerous situation to be in. You do not know that much about them, so there is that element of surprise, too.”
Mananchaya Sawangkaew profile
Nationality- Thai
Date of birth- 10 July 2002
Right-handed
Attended Oklahoma State
Four career titles on the ITF Women’s Circuit
Emma Raducanu’s Australian Open record
2022- second round, lost to Danka Kovinic
2023- second round, lost to Coco Gauff
2024- second round, lost to Wang Yafan
2025- third round, lost to Iga Swiatek
Can Raducanu advance to the second round?
Emma Raducanu’s Australian Open campaign begins as she takes on Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the first round on the Margaret Court Arena. After a foot injury in the final weeks of the 2025 season, Raducanu comes into this tournament off the back of reaching the quarter-finals at the Hobart International just a few days ago before being beaten by Australia’s Taylah Preston, a 20-year-old wildcard. To sum up the shock of that defeat, Preston is the world No 204 whilst Raducanu was the top seed in that tournament. That run to the quarter-finals did include a walkover victory in the round of 16, meaning she actually won just once on the way to the quarter-finals.
Not only was she in action a matter of days ago, she only arrived in Melbourne on Friday after a delayed flight and could be in for a late finish if the match before goes to five sets. The match will begin on Margaret Court after the men’s first-round match between Alexander Bublik and Jenson Brooksby concludes.
“It is very difficult,” Raducanu said. “You would love to have more time in the environment, more time practising, but I guess I was pretty much handed the schedule to try and turn it around and make the most out of what is in front of me. I think it is easy to get down and complain about it, but it is not going to help. So I am just trying to focus and turn it around for tomorrow.
“It is very difficult to be scheduling women’s matches after a potential five-set match. To me, it does not really make much sense. Today I am going to practice and see what it’s like. I do not think I have been in that situation. Only once before maybe when I played the semi-finals of the US Open. I played the second night match but, other than that, I have not played that late. So, for me, it is a new experience, something that I need to learn to do.”
Before the Hobart International, Raducanu’s only other preparation for the Australian Open came in the United Cup, when she lost in three sets against Maria Sakkari. Raducanu, who enters the tournament as the 28th seed, could face world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round should she advance through the next two rounds. This is the first time that the British No 1 enters a grand slam as a seeded player for the first time in three years. She has won her four previous first-round matches at the Australian Open since her debut at the tournament in 2022. Her tournament this time last year came to an end at the third-round stage, falling to Iga Swiatek.
This will be Sawangkaew’s grand slam main draw debut and she did break the top 100 in the world rankings in June last year.
2026-01-18T12:30:48Z