if there was a sense of the unknown Emma Reducanu emerged on the morning of the opening of Australian OpenSprained in the left ankle, it didn’t last long. A 6-3 6-2 win over Tamara Korpatsch not only raised any questions about her fitness, but also showed some early glimpses of Raducanu fearlessly hitting for lines, showing that she is ready for Melbourne I have come to a good place. sets up a first meeting with Coco Gauff In the second round, what a blockbuster clash of two teen stars.
Radukanu will be relieved to make it after an interrupted build-up to the season’s first Grand Slam, but apart from tape around his left ankle there was little evidence of the 19-year-old’s injury, which occurred at just 11 years old in Auckland Was. day before. Raducanu’s training has been limited since twisting his ankle on an indoor court at the ASB Classic, a “strange injury”, and the only concern at Monday’s opening at Melbourne Park was a slight wobble on his right ankle midway through the second Was. set.
Gauff, seeded seventh, will offer a much greater test than Korpach at the 1573 Arena, but Raducanu has few wins on the Grand Slam stage to speak of since sensationally winning the US Open in 2021, let alone a winning display Has such an aggressive, confident and aggressive attitude. Radukanu threatened the second serve of 27-year-old Korpatsch, who was winless at a Grand Slam in three previous attempts and making his Australian Open debut, and the British No. 1 finished with 27 winners.
Despite their difference in years, Radukanu played like a Grand Slam champion when swiftly dismissing a more inexperienced opponent. Radukanu moved well on his left ankle and stepped into shots on both the forehand and backhand sides, especially when targeting Korpach’s second serve. The German won just 20 percent of her second-serve points and struggled to adjust to Raducanu’s front-footed play, especially in the shorter exchanges.
The reality of Radukanu’s first full year on tour meant she came into the Australian Open unseeded, having dropped her ranking to 77 in the world after her first round exit at the US Open last season. Korpatch was put forward in the 76th, but lacked the weapons to trouble Raducanu. Korpatch was able to break twice early on as Raducanu showed some brief signs of hesitation, but the match turned around when the 19-year-old turned away a forehand error in the first set at 3-3.
From there, Radukanu won six games in a row to take total control and an impressive opening win was recorded in 85 minutes.
Gauff needed little time to edge out Katerina Siniakova 6-1 6-4 as last season’s French Open finalist continued her good form with an assured performance. The 18-year-old is targeting a first Grand Slam win in 2023, and has started the season with seven straight wins, including the title at the ASB Classic.
Gauff and Raducanu have never played against each other even at junior level, and their first career meeting will headline Wednesday’s action at Melbourne Park.