"Just let my agent know": Emma Raducanu invites fan to every match who coined new nickname in statement Australian Open win

Emma Raducanu’s 6–4, 6–1 victory over Mananchaya Sawangkaew at the Australian Open may have been businesslike by the end, but it was her warmth towards the crowd — and a fan christened “Rado” — that lit up Margaret Court Arena long after midnight.

Playing under the lights, Raducanu overcame a tricky opening set against a debutant opponent who, she admitted, made life uncomfortable from the very first game.

“I feel very happy to have got through that match,” Raducanu said on court. “From the beginning, I felt like she was playing incredibly well — all of her returns and shots seemed to be dropping on the baseline or an inch from it, and it made life very difficult.”

The Briton was full of praise for Sawangkaew, who was making her Grand Slam debut and received a warm ovation as she left the court. “She’s playing some incredible tennis, playing way higher than her ranking currently, and I’m sure she’s going to do good things this year,” Raducanu said.

After edging the opening set 6–4, Raducanu found her rhythm, accelerating through the second to seal a straight-sets win and book her place in the next round. The night-time conditions, however, required careful planning — something Raducanu revealed began well before match day. “The preparation actually started yesterday from 9:15 to 11:15pm,” she explained. “It was the latest I’ve ever practised.

“It’s completely different to the day. It’s a lot slower, it’s colder, the ball doesn’t travel as much, it doesn’t bounce as high. I got used to it a bit yesterday and I’m really happy that I did that and then came out today.”

Managing energy levels was just as important. “It’s a difficult one because you need to switch on at the right time and not too early,” she said. “I had a potter around Melbourne this morning by the river, then had a nap, and came out here.”

By the time Raducanu returned to the court, the atmosphere had reached full volume and one fan in particular caught her attention. “The atmosphere was electric,” she said. “I want to thank everyone for staying out so late and thank you for the support. I think it was incredible on both sides.

“And a particular shout-out to ‘Rado’ — apparently that’s my new nickname.”

With a smile, Raducanu extended a playful invitation that drew laughter and applause from the stands. “You’re invited to every match,” she said. “Just let me know — or let my agent know — and you’re here.”

The moment summed up a night in which Raducanu combined composure on court with an easy rapport off it. Asked earlier about handling big arenas, she reflected on her own first experiences on the Grand Slam stage.

“My debut Slam was at Wimbledon, and I was incredibly nervous,” she said. “But at the same time I had such a great run that it set up amazing memories for me. It’s one of my most fond memories.”

That perspective was clear in the way she acknowledged Sawangkaew’s performance.

“It’s very nerve-wracking playing straight away on a big stadium,” Raducanu said. “She did really well to come out of the blocks firing. I was so impressed, and I really had to stay calm, stay composed, and trust my game one point at a time.”