In a thrilling first-round encounter at the Australian Open, Emma Raducanu proved why she’s still one of tennis’s brightest prospects. The former Grand Slam winner defeated qualifier Elina Savinykh 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, advancing to the second round with poise and power.
The match unfolded under the Melbourne sun, with Raducanu starting strong by holding her serve confidently in the opening set. Savinykh, however, refused to go quietly, mounting a comeback in the second frame with aggressive baseline play that left Raducanu scrambling.
Trailing in the decider, Raducanu tapped into her champion’s mindset. She mixed up her shots masterfully—drop shots, lobs, and blistering groundstrokes—overwhelming her opponent. A double break in the final set sealed a hard-fought victory, delighting the British contingent in the stands.
This performance comes at a pivotal time for Raducanu, who has endured a rollercoaster year marked by injuries and coaching changes. Her movement looked sharp, and her serve held up under pressure, clocking several aces.
Raducanu reflected on the win: ‘It was tough, but I stayed composed. Now, eyes on the next round.’ Facing China’s Wang Xiyu next, the 25th seed is gearing up for what could be another step toward the later stages. The tennis world watches as Raducanu aims to build on this momentum in Melbourne.
