Emma Raducanu says she will be taking it easy tomorrow after requiring two medical time-outs during her second round win over Amanda Anisimova at the Australian Open.
The former US Open champion battled her way to a 6-3, 7-5, win over the American to move into the last 32 of the tournament for the first time in her career. Raducanu, who is currently ranked 61st in the world, had to come back from a break down in the opening set and then a double break down in the second. It is the 24th time in her career that she has beaten a top 50 player.
“I’m very happy. I thought I played really well in some big moments in that match. I thought it was going to be a really challenging one, playing Amanda,” Raducanu told reporters afterward.
“She’s obviously a good friend of mine, so it’s never easy. I feel like that adds another dimension to the match but I’m happy I stuck with her in the second set and came through and found a way.”
It wasn’t just Anisimova giving Raducanu trouble on the court, it was her own body too. The Brit delayed her start to the season due to back spasms which forced her to withdraw from an event in Auckland. In Melbourne, she required medical attention to help address issues with her back region. She later said she is yet to ‘fully investigate’ if the latest issue is related to the back spasms she has been suffering from.
Raducanu has been troubled by injury problems throughout her career which has at times sidelined her from the Tour for months. However, she has played down the significance of her latest problem.
“I think it’s almost to be expected when you haven’t played a match in so long, and then to have two really physical ones,” she said.
“I think small niggles are going to come up here and there. I’m just hoping that it is that.
“I was able to push past some pain today I’m going to just try and recover as best as possible over the next day.”
One of those tasked with dealing with Raducanu’s physical health is strength and fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura who recently joined her team. Nakamura has also previously worked with Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka.
Swiatek awaits
It is only the second time the 22-year-old has won back-to-back matches at a Grand Slam event since lifting the US Open title in 2021. She will next play second seed Iga Swaitek in Melbourne who stormed through her second round match with a 6-0, 6-2, win over Rebecca Sramkova. Swiatek has now won 85 matches at major events compared to 18 losses.
Raducanu will be the underdog heading into her match against the Pole who she trails 3-0 in their head-to-head and is yet to take a set off her.
“It’s going to be a match for me where I feel like I don’t really have much expectation externally,” she said.
“I think you always have the pressure that you put on yourself to perform to your best ability, which is not really going to change, but that’s every match.
“I think I’m going to enjoy playing in a great atmosphere. In the last two matches I’ve had the crowd has been amazing. I’ve really felt at home. It’s just been a really nice feeling to be a part of.”
As for five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek, she is not underestimating her rival ahead of their clash. She is bidding to win her first Australian Open title title this year and has only reached the semi-finals of the event once before.
“Emma can play great tennis. We all know that,” Swiatek commented.
“There’s no point in looking at rankings, especially when you have these great players that already have been through great tournaments and won some tournaments. You know they can play well. Maybe they’re not consistent to have the ranking, but still, you need to be on your toes and ready because you don’t know what they’ll show this week.” She added.
Raducanu is one of four female British players to make it through to the second round in Australia, which is the country’s best performance since 1987.
