British No.1 Emma Raducanu claimed victory in Melbourne after overcoming an unconvincing start in the Australian Open first round to win in straight sets
Emma Raducanu was fired up(Image: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
A fired-up Emma Raducanu overcame a shaky start to dispatch world 196 Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the first round of the Australian Open. Raducanu won seven games in a row to dig herself out of a deficit to win 6-4, 6-1 and maintain her perfect record in the opening round in Melbourne.
“I feel very happy,” Raducanu said following the match. “She was playing incredibly well and her shots were landing on the baseline, and she was playing much higher than her ranking.”
It was an aggressive start from the 28th seed, who won the opening service game, overcoming some vicious returns from her Thai opponent. But it was only in the third game that Raducanu was put under pressure.
The Brit’s serve was targeted in just the third game as impotent opening hits were met by brilliant winners, and Sawangkaew claimed an early break to 15. The unseeded 23-year-old’s own serve remained rock steady as she eased through her own service game to take a 3-1 lead in her first Grand Slam outing.
Sawangkaew was smiling through her relentless play, and she persistently swatted back any Raducanu stroke that didn’t have the required venom. In danger of dropping another serve, the British No.1 found some ferocity to save two break points and claimed a promising hold.
READ MORE: Andre Agassi told ‘you’re such a d***’ as Roger Federer Australian Open match takes a turnREAD MORE: Australian Open winner looks unrecognisable now almost 20 years after success Down Under
The underdog looked anything but as she refused to lose a first serve point and regularly attacked the net to put Raducanu under pressure on her own serve. The ex-US Open champion was forced to deuce again but was able to hang on as the score went to 4-3 in the opening set.
Raducanu found a new gear from there and quickly rattled a break back with a huge roar of relief. The 23-year-old found more purpose in her play and needed just one of three break points to get back on level terms before winning her own game to love, leading 5-4.
Renewed pressure from Raducanu saw Sawangkaew fail to land her first serve as regularly, and the 28-seed was able to take advantage. A booming forehand saw the Thai star only able to find the net as Raducanu claimed the first set with another break.
Sawangkaew started racking up forehand errors as the second set got underway and could find no answers for her rejuvenated opponent.
Only a brief row with the umpire over whether she warranted a first serve restoring appeared to slow Raducanu down as she raced into a 3-0 lead, and a seventh game in a row.
The tension was truly lifted for Raducanu and her team, led by coach Francisco Roig. They mirrored her first pumping celebrations in the stands as Raducanu let loose and forced her opponent well behind the baseline on both serves.
Watch the Australian Open live on TNT Sports
The 2026 Australian Open is now underway and fans can watch all the action live from Melbourne on TNT Sports via Prime Video’s TNT Sports channel.
Raducanu was irrepressible, and Sawangkaew could not find an answer as the British star took a 5-1 lead and earned the opportunity to serve for the match. A call of ‘come on’ came as Raducanu ripped yet another forehand on her way to 30-15.
Any hint of nerves was soon dispelled as Raducanu claimed her win with a booming serve down the middle. Raducanu sealed her spot in the second round in one hour and 11 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.
“The preparation started yesterday,” Raducanu said. “I booked the court from 9pm to 11pm, it was the latest I’ve ever practised.”
The beaming Brit also offered a special shoutout to a vocal Aussie fan, adding: “A particular shoutout to, Rado apparently is my name. You’re invited to every match!”
