"Raducanu had struggled early on, trailing 1-3, 15-40 against an impressive Sawangkaew. However, she found her form quickly, rolling through 11 of the subsequent 13 games to close out a comfortable victory. I feel very happy to have gotten through the match, said Raducanu. From the beginning, I felt like she was playing incredibly well. All of her returns and shots seemed to fall on the baseline and were really difficult. So I'm really happy with how I was able to fight back."
"Raducanu had competed in Hobart on Thursday evening and a delayed flight meant she only arrived in Melbourne on Friday, with just one day to practise and prepare for the Melbourne conditions. That discomfort in the conditions was perhaps reflected in Raducanu's early struggles. However, the level displayed by Sawangkaew, a 23-year-old Thai player making her grand slam debut, was the most significant factor in the scoreline."
Emma Raducanu opened her Australian Open campaign with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Mananchaya Sawangkaew after rallying from an early 1-3 deficit. Raducanu trailed 15-40 early but won 11 of the next 13 games to close out the match. Raducanu was happy to have gotten through the match and praised Sawangkaew's baseline returns and difficult shots. Raducanu criticized tournament scheduling after arriving in Melbourne with only one day to practise following a delayed flight from Hobart. Sawangkaew, a 23-year-old Thai making her grand slam debut, displayed a powerful topspin forehand, net-closing instincts and strong defensive skills despite her world ranking of 195. Raducanu's serving was imprecise early but improved at key moments.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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