Did Emma Raducanu win? Australian Open 2022 first round match a breeze for US Open Champion

The British number one Emma Raducanu has made it through the first round of the Australian Open after beating Sloane Stephens in a three set match.

The 2021 US Open Champion was back to her winning ways earlier today (Tuesday 18 January 2022) as she took on the 2017 US Open Champion at Melbourne Park.

Raducanu will now play her next match on Thursday 20 January 2022.

The 19-year-old was hit with COVID-19 just before Christmas and, while saying she did not feel unwell at the time, suffered longer term consequences as she struggled with training and fitness in the earlier days of the New Year.

The Canadian-born tennis star’s 2022 did not get off to the flying start she would have wished as she crashed out in the Sydney Tennis Classic in the first round to Elena Rybakina 6-0 6-1.

However, this early disappointment may soon be forgotten as the 2021 winner of Sports Personality of the Year proceeds through the Australian Open.

What happened in the match?

The first set came far too easily for the young rising player as she breezed through a flawless display that gave her a 6-0 lead. The first set was won in a staggering 17 minutes and lost just four points on serve - winning a total of 24.

However, Stephens was far from finished as she came fighting back to win the second set 6-2.

In the third set, Raducanu was once again able to regain her composure and secure those hard-hitting, accurate and cross-court shots which gave her the edge over her opponent.

While the third set ended 6-1, the 6-0 2-6 6-1 result does not reflect the battle within each rally.

The US Open Champion pair were fighting lengthy and athletic rallies throughout the entire match.

Raducanu was however able to put on a display that produced far fewer unenforced errors and was able to take the win relatively easily.

What did Emma Raducanu say after the match?

In her post- match interview, Raducanu said: “I just want to thank everyone for coming out and staying so late.

“Both me and Sloane really put everything out there. I thought it was a really high-quality match with lots of great rallies so I’m really happy to have come through against such a great champion.

“It was a tough match-up for a first round. Her athleticism is really up there. I was having to work extremely hard for my points but I’m so happy to have got through. I was very pleased.

“Coming out for the first set, I thought I played some very good tennis. Of course there was going to be some adversity.

“I’m happy to have regrouped. In the third, I don’t think the score really reflected it. I was really feeling it.”

When is Emma Raducanu next playing?

Raducanu will join her fellow Brits - Andy Murray, Dan Evans and Heather Watson - in the second round of the Australian Open as she prepares to play Danka Kovinic.

The exact timings of her match are unknown but she will play on Thursday 20 January 2022.

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