Australian Open 2026 | Emma Raducanu overcomes sluggish start to comfortably bypass Sawangkaew in first round

Emma Raducanu has begun the Australian Open with a very commendable 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Mananchaya Sawangkaew, with her continuing her impressive record in the first round at Melbourne Park.

The British number one is looking to continue her progression up the rankings back to where she once sat but is in need of a deep run. After making her debut at the United Cup, she suffered a surprise defeat to Taylah Preston, who was ranked outside the top 200, in the quarter-finals, missing a huge chance of finally adding some more silverware.

This is unlikely to come at the Australian Open with a matchup against world number one Aryna Sabalenka destined in the third round, but a depp run completed with convincing performances is something that she will be desperately hoping for.

Ignoring a slow start, she produced some very solid tennis which indicates that she is on the right pathway. Raducanu won 10 of the last 11 games to cement her name in the second round.

After comfortably holding, Sawangkaew fought back with some malice. She levelled up affairs before sneaking in with a crucial break to put her ahead. She could, and probably should, have been 4-1 up, having squandered two golden chances to put more daylight in between her and Raducanu.

A hold to love put her in the driving seat, but the former US Open champion came fighting back. A four-game spurt not only got her back into the match, but won her the first set from what seemed like a very dodgy position she was once in. After making it 5-4, her opponent had two chances to make it 5-5, but a resilient Raducanu prevented these chances from coming up and with her first set point took the lead.

She made this seven games won in a row after taking an ominous 3-0 lead in the second set. She dropped just two points on serve, breaking in between without dropping a point. The number two ranked Thailand player managed to get back on track, halting the barren spell before Raducanu grabbed a hold of her own to put her tantalisingly close of a fifth consecutive Australian Open second round appearance.

This process was sped up with a break to make it 5-1. She recovered from 40-15 down to give her the chance of sealing the match, and did this task with ease, winning it with her first ace of the match to overcome what looked like a tricky situation she was once engulfed in.

The 22-year-old has won at least one match every time she has competed in the Grand Slam Down Under. However, from this she has mustered up just one third round appearance. This came last year with Iga Swiatek on hand to give her a trouncing. The 28 seed will take on Anastasia Potapova in the second round, with the world number one possibly awaiting the victor.