Emma Raducanu Triumphs At Australian Open In Straight Sets Despite 15 Double Faults
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Emma Raducanu survived two dramatic and topsy-turvy sets against Ekaterina Alexandrova to win her first-round match at the Australian Open.
There were concerns about Raducanu's fitness before the season's opening Grand Slam after she withdrew from the ASB Classic in Auckland. That was meant to be her first tournament of 2025 before she pulled out.
Raducanu could not play in Auckland because she sustained a spasm while bending down to tie her shoelace. The 2021 US Open champion entered the Australian Open having not played in any warmup events beforehand.
However, the Briton assured her fans during a pre-tournament press conference that she was fit and ready for the tournament. She also spoke confidently about being a dangerous player and trusting in her abilities.
Alexandrova was the 26th seed at the Australian Open. Raducanu began the match as a slight underdog against her higher-ranked opponent after a challenging few years with form and fitness issues.
Many fans might have expected serve to dominate since Alexandrova's is among the most formidable on the WTA Tour. Instead, the fans on Court 3 were treated to a first set filled with several breaks of serve and momentum shifts.
Raducanu saved break points in her opening two service games before breaking Alexandrova to go 3-1 up. The Russian paid the price for not putting away a routine short forehand at deuce before losing the next point to lose her serve.
Although much great tennis was played, an inability to put away balls near the net or midway up the court often cost Raducanu and Alexandrova. Both women were too cautious on several occasions, giving each other a chance to hit passing shots.
There were an incredible eight breaks of serve in the opening set. Raducanu's return was the most impressive shot throughout, allowing her to cut out Alexandrova's powerful weapon. However, the 22-year-old also served nine double faults in the set.
Alexandrova could not capitalize on Raducanu's serving struggles. She failed to serve out the set twice and then made more unforced errors in the tiebreak, which allowed Raducanu to win 7-4 and the set 7-6.
The 26th seed's body language worsened in the early stages of the second set. Raducanu, passionate and pumped up throughout the match in front of several British fans on Court 3, broke again in the second set's opening game.
An opportunity came and went for Alexandrova in the sixth game. She missed a glorious chance to break back, not putting away another ball short in the court before missing a routine volley. Raducanu saved another break point before holding for 4-2.
Alexandrova, who slowly picked herself up throughout the set from her defeated-looking attitude in the opening stages, was not finished. She piled the pressure on again in Raducanu's next service game and broke for 4-4.
However, Raducanu's response in the next game was even more impressive. After impressively returning throughout it, a stunning forehand allowed her to break for a sixth time and gave her a chance to serve for the match.
Raducanu looked sure of victory after going 30-0 up but lost four points in a row to give Alexandrova another break. The Briton visibly tightened up and hit her 14th double fault at 30-40 to level the set at 5-5.
Raducanu saved a set point at 5-6 with a big serve out wide to take another set to a tiebreak. The crowd favorite set the tone from the first point with an astounding forehand winner down the line.
Alexandrova could not recover from that moment. Raducanu swiftly won the tiebreak 7-2 to seal a 7-6, 7-6 victory after two dramatic sets in Melbourne.
