Emma Raducanu: Briton upsets 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova to win opener at Australian Open

Emma Raducanu overcame serving issues to upset 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova to reach the second round of the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old hit 15 double faults but edged an erratic match to post her best win at Melbourne Park, seeing off 31st-ranked Russian Alexandrova 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2).

Raducanu’s victory made it five British players through to the second round, equalling the record here with more chances to come.

Raducanu, who missed the Asian swing with sprained ligaments in her foot and then a warm-up event in Auckland with a back problem said: “My goal this year, it’s not to be too high or too low, keeping pretty level. Even after today, it’s great to win a match on tour for a few months. I think I just want to look at it, celebrate it for what it is, and just kind of move on.”

Raducanu’s enduring popularity was evidenced by big queues outside Court 3 as the match began under a cloudless Melbourne sky.

The former US Open champion’s serve is a work in progress and her first two service games saw her produce five aces and four double faults.

From there the balance skewed to the negative side and heading into the tie-break she was winning fewer than 10 per cent of points on her second serve, while her double fault count had hit nine, including three in one game at 4-4.

Alexandrova, a big ball striker with a relentlessly negative demeanour, broke serve four times in a row but holding her own delivery proved equally challenging, with Raducanu’s return game in good shape.

Raducanu was pegged back from 4-2 to 4-4 in the tie-break, but won just her third point of the set on second serve at a crucial moment thanks to a wayward return. A forehand return drilled into the corner clinched the set.

Raducanu seemed to have settled on serve and another break of her opponent put the British No 2 immediately in the ascendancy in the second set.

She survived three more double faults at 3-2, turning to coach Nick Cavaday for advice, and was broken at 4-3 but forged ahead again to leave herself serving for the match.

At 30-0, she was two points away, but she could not create a match point and yet another double fault put Alexandrova back on serve.

Raducanu then had to save a set point to force a tie-break but from there was almost faultless, with a final double fault on her first match point the only blemish.

“Honestly, I’m not sure what I changed in my serve today. I think it had a mind of its own. I’ll be sure to reflect, look at that and come back to you,” she told reporters.

“In the first set I was hitting a lot of good first serves. I hit a few aces. At the same time I was hitting a double fault. I was quite of accepting that, Okay, I’m at least going for it.

“As the balls got heavier, it was a lot more difficult. As more kept coming, it wasn’t easy to refocus, but I knew even if I was down, I have great returns.”

“It was good to be able to rely on other parts of my game today that I know are quite strong, as well,” added Raducanu, who also sent down nine aces.

“I’m just proud I didn’t let it affect me too much and let the match run away from me.”

Raducanu next faces fellow teenage prodigy Amanda Anisimova, who has taken time out of the game for her mental health after reaching the French Open semi-finals in 2019.

“I know she’s a big ball-striker,” Raducanu said. “I practiced with her a couple times. She likes to dictate. So I think it’s going to be a big challenge for me.”

Norrie unable to add to British success in Melbourne

Cameron Norrie was unable to add to the British victories, suffering defeat in the opening round against former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini.

It was a tough draw for the British No 2, with Berrettini a semi-finalist at Melbourne Park three years ago and heading back up the rankings following injury troubles.

The Italian hammered down 32 aces and recovered from a set down to claim a 6-7 (7-4) 6-4 6-1 6-3 victory.

Norrie saved a set point at 5-6 in the opener before staging a fine comeback in the tie-break, winning six points in a row from 4-1 down.

But from there the pressure on his serve told, Berrettini taking five of 13 break points across the final three sets, while Norrie was unable to convert any of his five chances in the match.

Reaching the fourth round here was the highlight of a difficult season in 2024 for Norrie who will now drop out of the top 60.

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