“I felt like everyone was behind me" - Raducanu on support in her first match of 2023

In her first match of the season, Emma Raducanu was able to overcome the tough challenge from Linda Fruhvirtova.

The match was a back-and-forth battle, with both players showing their impressive skills and determination to win. In the end, it was Raducanu who came out on top, using her solid baseline play and consistent serving to secure the victory. It was a promising start to the 2023 season for the 20-year-old British player.

The match was suspended because of rain in the first set, and Raducanu, who is not used to outdoor conditions like that in her home country, spoke about it after the match. “I’m really not that used to them, we just play indoors in the UK! It’s not like we’re putting ourselves out there for that,” Raducanu said.

“For me, it was very new to have two rain delays. I don’t think it’s ever happened to me. It was a testing match, to stay focussed for that amount of time and not switch off, then stopping and starting again and being right back on it, because you’re in the middle of a game.”

The 2021 US Open champion enjoyed the support from the crowd in Auckland as she felt like they pushed her toward victory.

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“I was loving the support,” she said. “I was very surprised, but I was absolutely here for it. I felt like I was almost playing in the UK. I felt like everyone was behind me and I absolutely loved it. Some moments it was tricky in the score and I would hear a young kid say ‘Come on Emma’ and I was like, come on, let’s go.”

In the second round, she will play against world no. 134 from Slovakia, Viktoria Kuzmova, and with the confidence and momentum from her first-round win, she will be ready to take on the challenge and continue her quest for success in the 2023 season.