Sunday, February 16, 2025

Emma Raducanu: Briton upsets twenty sixth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova to win opener at Australian Open | Tennis Information

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Emma Raducanu overcame serving points to upset twenty sixth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova to succeed in the second spherical of the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old joked her serve had “a thoughts of its personal” as she hit 15 double faults however edged an erratic match to put up her finest win at Melbourne Park, seeing off Thirty first-ranked Russian Alexandrova 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2).

Raducanu’s victory made it 5 British gamers by means of to the second spherical, equalling the report right here with British No 1 Katie Boulter nonetheless to return.

Brit Watch in Melbourne on Wednesday

Jodie Burrage vs [3] Coco Gauff – at 8am on Rod Laver Area

Jack Draper [15] vs Thanasi Kokkinakis – at 8am on John Cain Area

Harriet Dart vs Donna Vekic [18] – from round 7am on Court docket 3

Jacob Fearnley vs Arthur Cazaux – from round 5am on Court docket 6

Raducanu got here into the season feeling the consequences of a again spasm that prompted her to tug out of her deliberate opening match in Auckland, whereas she missed two months late final 12 months with a foot harm, so this was a superb bodily check.

The 22-year-old has been working to enhance her serve with coach Nick Cavaday, however it’s actually not the completed article.

“I am unsure what I modified in my serve as we speak,” stated Raducanu, who was taking part in outdoor for the primary time since Seoul in September. “I believe it had a thoughts of its personal. I’ll remember to mirror, have a look at that and are available again to you.

“I believe within the first set I used to be hitting a whole lot of good first serves. I hit a number of aces. On the similar time, I used to be hitting a double fault. I used to be fairly accepting of that: ‘OK, I am no less than going for it’.”

Raducanu’s enduring reputation was evidenced by large queues outdoors Court docket 3 because the match started underneath a cloudless Melbourne sky.

The previous US Open champion’s serve is a piece in progress and her first two service video games noticed her produce 5 aces and 4 double faults.

From there the stability skewed to the adverse aspect and heading into the tie-break she was profitable fewer than 10 per cent of factors on her second serve, whereas her double fault depend had hit 9, together with three in a single recreation at 4-4.

Alexandrova, an enormous ball striker with a relentlessly adverse manner, broke serve 4 instances in a row however holding her personal supply proved equally difficult, with Raducanu’s return recreation in fine condition.

Raducanu was pegged again from 4-2 to 4-4 within the tie-break, however received simply her third level of the set on second serve at a vital second due to a wayward return. A forehand return drilled into the nook clinched the set.

Raducanu appeared to have settled on serve and one other break of her opponent put the British No 2 instantly within the ascendancy within the second set.

She survived three extra double faults at 3-2, turning to educate Nick Cavaday for recommendation, and was damaged at 4-3 however solid forward once more to go away herself serving for the match.

At 30-0, she was two factors away, however she couldn’t create a match level and yet one more double fault put Alexandrova again on serve.

Raducanu then needed to save a set level to drive a tie-break however from there was virtually faultless, with a closing double fault on her first match level the one blemish.

“My purpose this 12 months, it is to not be too excessive or too low, retaining fairly stage. Even after as we speak, it is nice to win a match on tour for the primary time in a number of months. I believe I simply need to have a look at it, have a good time it for what it’s, and simply form of transfer on,” she stated.

“It was good to have the ability to depend on different elements of my recreation as we speak that I do know are fairly sturdy, as properly,” added Raducanu, who additionally despatched down 9 aces.

“I am simply proud I did not let it have an effect on me an excessive amount of and let the match run away from me.”

Raducanu subsequent faces fellow teenage prodigy Amanda Anisimova, who has taken outing of the sport for her psychological well being after reaching the French Open semi-finals in 2019.

“I do know she’s an enormous ball-striker,” Raducanu stated. “I practiced along with her a pair instances. She likes to dictate. So I believe it may be an enormous problem for me.

“I’ve had expertise having teething issues with it after which having the ability to come again and repair it for the following match. I am trying ahead to getting again out on the court docket tomorrow and dealing on it.”

What’s developing on Sky Sports activities Tennis?

ABN AMRO Open Rotterdam (ATP 500) – 3-9 February

Dallas Open (ATP 500) – 3-9 February

Delray Seaside Open (ATP 250) – 10-16 February

IEB+ Argentina Open (ATP 250) – 10-16 February

Open 13 Provence (ATP 250) – 10-16 February

Transylvania Open (WTA 250) – 3-9 February

Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open (WTA 500) – 3-8 February

Qatar TotalEnergies Open (WTA 1000) – 9-15 February

Dubai Responsibility Free Tennis Championships (WTA 1000) – 16-22 February

Norrie unable so as to add to British success in Melbourne

Picture:
Cameron Norrie suffered a first-round loss to Matteo Berrettini

Cameron Norrie was unable so as to add to the British victories, struggling defeat within the opening spherical towards former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini.

It was a tricky draw for the British No 2, with Berrettini a semi-finalist at Melbourne Park three years in the past and heading again up the rankings following harm troubles.

The Italian hammered down 32 aces and recovered from a set down to assert a 6-7 (7-4) 6-4 6-1 6-3 victory.

Norrie saved a set level at 5-6 within the opener earlier than staging a nice comeback within the tie-break, profitable six factors in a row from 4-1 down.

However from there the stress on his serve instructed, Berrettini taking 5 of 13 break factors throughout the ultimate three units, whereas Norrie was unable to transform any of his 5 probabilities within the match.

Norrie, who will drop outdoors the highest 60 having reached the fourth spherical final 12 months, rued the timing, saying: “I have never been capable of put together in addition to I might.

“I have been fairly sick in Auckland (final week), then coming right here. Simply barely practised. Truthfully, I have been feeling the ball so properly. Pre-season was glorious. It was a bit unlucky with the timing.

“I undoubtedly gave myself the most effective likelihood. Simply hit the wall after an hour and a bit. I used to be not capable of keep sharp on the court docket. It is a bit disappointing. Most significantly, simply get my well being again to 100 per cent, get some relaxation.”

Watch the ATP and WTA Excursions, in addition to the US Open in New York, reside on Sky Sports activities in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra reside sport this 12 months at no additional price. Discover out extra right here.


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