Raducanu sets up Swiatek clash in Melbourne

Emma Raducanu battled past American Amanda Anisimova at the Australian Open, reaching the third round of the tournament for the first time in her career. The 22-year-old Briton won 6-3, 7-5 and will face second seed Iga Swiatek of Poland in the next round.

Raducanu's preparation for the season's first Grand Slam was hampered by a back injury, and she received treatment twice during her second-round match. Nevertheless, the world No. 61 managed to defeat her friend Anisimova, ranked No. 35, in a match that featured a total of 13 breaks of serve.

Raducanu stated, "It means a lot to me to get through to the second round. It's always very difficult playing a friend, which adds a new dimension to the match and not necessarily a pleasant one." She added that she was glad to have some time to recover before her next match.

Raducanu will face five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek in the round of 32 on Saturday. The second-seeded Swiatek cruised past Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova 6-0, 6-1 earlier on Thursday in just an hour. Swiatek has never progressed beyond the semi-finals in Melbourne before.

Raducanu had not played since mid-November before her first-round victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova, having retired from the Auckland tournament earlier in the season due to back spasms. Raducanu's second serve was poor against the Russian 26th seed, with 15 double faults, which she attributed to a modified serve and early match nerves. A double fault on the very first point against Anisimova was not a good sign.

Although she quickly stemmed the double-fault tide, Raducanu's serve was frequently punished by the American's explosive hitting. Anisimova, who reached the French Open semi-finals as a 17-year-old in 2019 and is rebuilding her form after taking time away from the sport in 2023 due to mental health issues, also struggled with her serve, handing over the first set with a double fault.

At the start of the second set, there were more signs that Raducanu's back problem was having an impact. After stretching her back during the changeover, she produced three more double faults and called for the physio again after going down 0-3 and being broken once more. The physical, and perhaps mental, help had an immediate effect. Raducanu broke back to level at 3-3, and then after the pair traded breaks again, she received more treatment at 4-4.

Anisimova is a precise hitter but can also be erratic. Raducanu's resistance from the baseline pulled back a delicately balanced ninth game from 30-30. Raducanu saved a break point in the 11th game and then reached match point with a superb cross-court forehand winner, eventually sealing the win when Anisimova's backhand slice went out.

Raducanu said, "I had to fight and not give up, even when I was down. It's difficult because I haven't played many matches. My game is very athletic, so I use my body a lot." She also stated, "I am glad to have some time to recover before the next round."