Emma Raducanu gave herself a clear invoice of well being on the Australian Open as she appeared forward to a mouth-watering second-round conflict with Coco Gauff.
It will pit most likely the 2 largest younger stars within the sport in opposition to one another, with each having transcended tennis in a means that even dominant world primary Iga Swiatek has not but managed.
Excitement in regards to the potential match-up was tempered from Raducanu’s aspect by an ankle damage suffered in Auckland 11 days in the past that threatened her participation within the match.
She had it taped up on Monday and appeared tentative at first in opposition to German Tamara Korpatsch on serve and transferring out broad to her backhand however settled into the match properly and completed the 6-3 6-2 win with a beaming smile on her face.
“I’m obviously really happy to be through to the second round,” she stated. “It was always going to be difficult, coming in with so little prep and being out there.
“Everything I’ve done has been quite controlled the last week. So to test it out in a real match and with the unpredictability and stuff, I was just getting used to it in the beginning. But it felt good.”
Raducanu wanted three units to get previous Korpatsch of their solely earlier assembly on clay final spring however that’s the German’s greatest floor and this turned out to be somewhat a mild lob of a draw.
Korpatsch supplied little to hassle Raducanu and the British participant had probabilities in nearly all her opponent’s service video games.
She was twice pegged again from a break forward within the early levels however one other break for 4-3 was the beginning of a run of six video games in a row that put an more and more confident-looking Raducanu in full management of the match.
The 20-year-old’s struggles final 12 months had been partly a legacy of her bodily troubles however she additionally moved away from the attacking, first-strike tennis that was such a characteristic of her US Open triumph.
She labored at returning to that fashion underneath former coach Dmitry Tursunov earlier than the Russian determined to not flip the partnership right into a everlasting one, and it seems that can also be the path of journey underneath his successor Sabastian Sachs.
Raducanu additionally felt the ankle damage allowed her to swing freely, saying: “If anything, it kind of alleviates any pressure because you’re like, ‘Well, I’ve done so well to get myself onto the court’, and my team has done so well.
“(Physio) Will (Herbert) has been working on it every single day. It’s just a great achievement for all of us. Then for me to be out there, it’s like I might as well just enjoy all the hard work we’ve done to get myself here.”
Although she is almost a 12 months and a half older then Gauff, who continues to be solely 18, Raducanu must also really feel a sure freedom given the American is much more skilled and the seventh seed.
“I’m really looking forward to this match,” stated the British primary. “I’m very up for it. Coco has obviously done a lot of great things and she’s playing well.
“I think we’re both good, young players, we’re both coming through, part of the next generation of tennis, really. It’s going to be a great match.”
Gauff has constructed on her outstanding breakthrough as a 15-year-old at Wimbledon in 2019, when she reached the fourth spherical, gaining expertise after which stepping up final season by making the French Open remaining.
Raducanu is an admirer of {the teenager}, saying: “When she first came (through) at Wimbledon, I think after that it took her a little bit to adjust as well, but then she definitely found her feet.
“She’s playing really good tennis and looking really solid right now. She’s a great athlete with some big weapons. It’s going to be a tough opponent.”
Raducanu has not been overwhelmed with pals within the locker room however Gauff is somebody who has been heat in the direction of her, recognising what a difficult scenario the Kent participant discovered herself in after her gorgeous breakthrough triumph.
I really feel like being from the UK, being the primary British particular person to do one thing in a very long time, most likely is much more strain than what I’m used to being an American.
Coco Gauff on Emma Raducanu
“I talk to her pretty much at all the tournaments,” stated Gauff. “I didn’t really know her that well in juniors, but I’ve got to talk to her more on tour now.
“Obviously she’s gone through a lot of pressure, bursting onto the scene. I feel like probably more than I have experienced coming to win a slam.
“And especially I feel like being from the UK, being the first British person to do something in a long time, probably is a lot more pressure than what I’m used to being an American. Serena is retired now but she was always the American that people looked to.”
Gauff is rated as one of many favourites for the match and she or he started her marketing campaign in assured style with a 6-1 6-4 victory over Czech Katerina Siniakova.
