British number one Emma Raducanu has overcome a slow start to win her Australian Open first-round match against Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1. The challenge posed by the late finish was unprecedented for Raducanu and revealed how she had adapted her routine in preparation for the tournament.
Raducanu started at 5:30pm on court after a leisurely breakfast, allowing herself time to warm up and prepare before facing Sawangkaew's aggressive playing style. The Briton acknowledged that having played only one other night match at a major – the 2021 US Open semi-final – she had to think carefully about her approach.
Raducanu started slowly, with errors flying off her racquet and uncertainty in her shots, but she gradually found her rhythm as Sawangkaew threatened to go a double break ahead. After trailing 2-4, Raducanu reeled off seven games in a row to take control of the match.
The victory marked significant progress for Raducanu, who has been working on adapting her game to play better at night. She also praised Sawangkaew's playing style and acknowledged that it helped push her to be more aggressive and competitive during the match.
Raducanu's next opponent will be Austrian Anastasia Potapova.
Raducanu started at 5:30pm on court after a leisurely breakfast, allowing herself time to warm up and prepare before facing Sawangkaew's aggressive playing style. The Briton acknowledged that having played only one other night match at a major – the 2021 US Open semi-final – she had to think carefully about her approach.
Raducanu started slowly, with errors flying off her racquet and uncertainty in her shots, but she gradually found her rhythm as Sawangkaew threatened to go a double break ahead. After trailing 2-4, Raducanu reeled off seven games in a row to take control of the match.
The victory marked significant progress for Raducanu, who has been working on adapting her game to play better at night. She also praised Sawangkaew's playing style and acknowledged that it helped push her to be more aggressive and competitive during the match.
Raducanu's next opponent will be Austrian Anastasia Potapova.
Emma Raducanu's new night game strategy is already showing promise! 
like, who plays at 5:30 pm? 
I'm loving how Emma Raducanu is stepping up her game, especially with the night matches! It's crazy she only played one other night match at a major and still managed to pull it off 
. I was on the edge of my seat when she trailed 2-4, but then what happened next? Like, who else can make a comeback like that? 
And btw, I'm rooting for her against Potapova - fingers crossed she keeps this momentum going! 
I'm loving Emma Raducanu's mental toughness & adaptability right now 
! She totally got taken aback by that late finish but still managed to turn it around & come out on top 
. Sawangkaew's playing style was definitely a challenge, but Raducanu proved herself capable of handling high-pressure situations 
. Fingers crossed for her next match against Potapova! 
6-4, 6-1 against Sawangkaew was no joke, and I'm hyped for her next match against Potapova! Let's see how she can keep the momentum going 
who may be looking up to her as an example of what it takes to succeed at the highest level 
. Now it's like every country has its own thing going on. Anyway, Emma Raducanu seems like a tough cookie, I mean she won against that Thai girl 6-4, 6-1... not bad at all! Reminds me of when Martina Navratilova used to take down anyone in her path back in the 80s 
! I mean, starting a match at 5:30 pm on court is pretty bold, but it shows how much she's invested in getting it right. It's awesome that she can take feedback from opponents and use it to push herself even harder 
. Now we're all wondering if Raducanu will be able to keep up this momentum against Potapova... fingers crossed! 
. I love how Emma Raducanu didn't let her opponent's aggressive style get to her, but instead used it to fuel her own game 
... okay, fine, Raducanu has been working hard to adapt her game for nighttime matches and this shows that she's making progress 
... no, no, don't even think that way, you're being too pessimistic! 
... or am I? 
so she finally showed up on court, lol what a slow start! but like, i get it, trying out new routine and all that jazz... 5:30pm? that's pretty chill, i mean, who needs an early morning wake-up call at the Australian Open 
. seriously though, raducanu's gotta keep working on those night matches if she wants to take down the big girls. sawangkaew played a solid match too, she's not just some weak link in the Thai team 
! I mean, who else can pull off getting smashed in the first set and still come back to win 6-1? 
.
.
. and yessss she totally turned it around, what a comeback story! 
. i'm still hyped about raducanu's chances this tournament, she's def one to beat