British No 1 Emma Raducanu has admitted she is cautious of her second-round opponent Anastasia Potapova on the Australian Open on Wednesday.
Raducanu was unimpressed by being scheduled within the evening session on Sunday for her opening match however the optimistic is, having prevailed towards Thailand’s world No 195 Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4 6-1, she has two days to organize for a second-round match with Potapova.
They haven’t contested a match earlier than however Raducanu has been conscious of the Russian-turned-Austrian’s expertise for a very long time, saying: “I bear in mind watching Anastasia all via juniors. I used to be the yr under her.
“She was always the player to watch and beat through juniors. She’s been very high ranked, as well, in the pros. A big hitter. I know it’s going to be a really tricky one. I need to just gather my strength and prepare as best as possible.”
Within the crowd will probably be Raducanu’s tremendous fan James Bray, who the 23-year-old thanked after he nicknamed her ‘Raddo’ and cheered her on loudly towards Sawangkaew.
He advised the Herald Solar: “Her agent reached out, I’ve got tickets to the next match, so I’m hoping she makes the Grand Slam final because I would love to go to Rod Laver Arena.”
Raducanu backs Draper to return stronger from lengthy harm lay-off
Raducanu has backed former world No 4 Jack Draper to return stronger from his harm lay-off
Fellow British No 1 Jack Draper has performed just one match since Wimbledon due to bone bruising in his left arm and didn’t get well in time for the beginning of this season.
The 24-year-old had been because of workforce up with Raducanu on the United Cup to start out 2026 earlier than heading to the Australian Open, however he’s as a substitute planning to make his return at subsequent month’s Davis Cup tie towards Norway.
Raducanu mentioned: “I saw him throughout December and I think he was very close to coming out here.
“Clearly his harm has been happening for some time and it will possibly’t be straightforward however I am positive he’ll get well and be higher, stronger when he comes again, like he at all times is. We missed him within the workforce at United Cup however I actually hope we are able to each make it subsequent yr.”
Raducanu can empathise with Draper having sat out three Grand Slams, including Wimbledon, in 2023 after she underwent operations on both wrists and one ankle.
“It is actually troublesome,” she said. “For me, after I missed Grand Slams, I could not watch them as a result of it was too uncooked, too powerful to look at.
“I’m not sure what he’s up to but I found it really difficult so it can’t be easy. But I know just working on the right things day to day, just trying to stay in your zone, your bubble, is the best way to get through it.”
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Draper and Jessica Pegula took on Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz in an unforgettable US Open combined doubles match
Raducanu was additionally a doubt for the Australian Open after a foot downside all through pre-season left her taking part in catch-up, however she recovered simply in time and overcame a gradual begin to win her opening match in Melbourne towards Sawangkaew.
The previous US Open champion cautioned towards too excessive expectations for Draper immediately, saying of her expertise of getting back from accidents: “The hardest thing is moving, seeing the ball.
“It is one thing that you just take with no consideration whenever you’ve performed a number of matches and also you’re in momentum, you appear to simply learn the ball earlier, learn the sport, learn the conditions and play the large factors higher.
“When you haven’t played, you feel two steps slow, and getting that movement back and anticipation is very difficult.”
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