Emma Raducanu Shakes Off Nerves to Power Through Australian Open Opener
Pressure shows up fast at a Grand Slam and for Emma Raducanu in Melbourne, it arrived within the first few games. But what followed was a clear reminder of why her name still commands attention on the sport’s biggest stages.
Raducanu opened her Australian Open campaign with a performance that was far more demanding than the scoreline suggests. Early on, she was pushed back by Mananchaya Sawangkaew, a fearless Thai player playing the biggest match of her career. Raducanu fell behind quickly, her timing was off and her serve lacked bite. For a moment, the match looked uncomfortable, even precarious.
Then the shift came.
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Raducanu steadied herself, raised her intensity and began to take control of the points that mattered. Her movement sharpened. Her first serve started to land when she needed it most. And crucially, she began dictating with her forehand, turning defence into attack. From there, the match tilted decisively. She surged through the remainder of the contest, closing out a straight-sets win and booking her place in the second round.
This victory matters because it speaks to resilience more than dominance. Raducanu arrived in Melbourne with little preparation time after a late finish in Hobart and travel delays that left her just one day to adjust to the Australian Open conditions. That lack of rhythm showed early. But rather than unravel, she adapted, fought through the discomfort and found solutions on court.
Her opponent deserves real credit here. Sawangkaew played with confidence and ambition, using heavy topspin and sharp net approaches to disrupt Raducanu’s rhythm in the opening set. Rankings aside, this was not an easy first-round draw. The way Raducanu absorbed that pressure and responded will give her confidence moving forward.
Another notable change was her presence on court. Usually reserved, Raducanu was vocal, expressive and visibly engaged. Every key point brought a reaction. That energy seemed to fuel her momentum and unsettle an opponent playing her first Grand Slam match.
The bigger picture is this. Raducanu is still navigating the expectations that follow her everywhere. Wins like this are not about perfection. They are about progress, toughness and learning how to win when conditions are not ideal. Getting through a tricky opening match, especially at a major, can shape an entire tournament.
Emma Raducanu is into the next round, tested, challenged and still standing. Stay with us as her Australian Open journey continues and keep watching for the stories that shape this tournament as they unfold.
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