Emma Raducanu walks off court at the Australian Open. Smile if you just got your first Grand Slam win since coming back from injury. 🫶❤️
"I was a little taken aback": Emma Raducanu left shocked with fan response in easing past Rogers at Australian Open
WTATuesday, 16 January 2024 at 13:39
Emma Raducanu had a superb return to the Australian Open with the former US Open champion finding her way past Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-2 in the first round in Melbourne. A previous meeting en route to that title in the Last 16 at Flushing Meadows, she was again far too good for the American.
Rogers like Raducanu missed most of 2023 through injury, but it was an impressive return from the Brit who was taken a back by the fan support she received after being off court for so long. Next up is Wang Yafan and then maybe Katie Boulter in the third round if she is not defeated by Qinwen Zheng.
So either way, it could be China v China or Great Britain or Great Britain in an intriguing set of match-ups in Melbourne. But either way Raducanu is through her opener.
"I’m very happy to have come through that. It being my first Slam match back, it’s extra sweet," said Raducanu after the match.
"I was a little taken aback by the support. I think it was better than any year I’ve had before here. It was amazing to see all the signs and hear the support. It was incredible, very happy to play in those sorts of circumstances again."
"First rounds are always difficult," added Raducanu. "You’re always a little bit nervous, regardless of whether you’ve played a tournament the week before, it’s slightly different conditions, different court, it’s a first round again.
"That part really changed but what I realised is that the difference between me potentially losing in the first round or doing really well is really, really slim and it’s in the way that I move and do things physically. Just not being so drastic because I know it’s not far away at all and I know the more I practise consistently, the more it will come up."
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