MELBOURNE: Britain’s teenage sensation Emma Raducanu cleared a hazardous initial-spherical hurdle at the Australian Open, seeing off professional American Sloane Stephens 6-, 2-6, 6-1 in a topsy-turvy contest on Tuesday.
Raducanu, who rocketed to fame in September with a fairytale run to the U.S. Open up title as a qualifier devoid of dropping a established in what was only her fourth senior event, raced as a result of the opening set in 17 minutes, leaking only four factors.
But former environment quantity 3 and 2017 U.S. Open winner Stephens ultimately uncovered her rhythm and vary to acquire demand of the second established from 2-2, reeling off four online games as errors commenced creeping in to 17th seed Raducanu’s match.
It looked ominous at that place for the 19-yr-previous Raducanu whose build-up to her Australian Open up debut had barely been ideal, owning experienced COVID-19 and suffering a significant defeat in her opening match in Sydney.
But she showed the very same coolness under strain that swept her to the title in New York, settling down and acquiring an additional equipment to dominate the decider with some precision baseline hitting as the Stephens sport unravelled again.
Stephens averted an additional rout as she held serve at -5 but there was not to be an additional twist on a sparsely-populated Margaret Court as Raducanu shut out the win on provide even with a sixth double-fault on her 1st match stage.
It was an encouraging get started for Raducanu despite the 2nd-established wobble and she will be heavily fancied to get earlier 99th ranked Danka Kovinic of Montenegro in the next round.
Raducanu, who rocketed to fame in September with a fairytale run to the U.S. Open up title as a qualifier devoid of dropping a established in what was only her fourth senior event, raced as a result of the opening set in 17 minutes, leaking only four factors.
But former environment quantity 3 and 2017 U.S. Open winner Stephens ultimately uncovered her rhythm and vary to acquire demand of the second established from 2-2, reeling off four online games as errors commenced creeping in to 17th seed Raducanu’s match.
It looked ominous at that place for the 19-yr-previous Raducanu whose build-up to her Australian Open up debut had barely been ideal, owning experienced COVID-19 and suffering a significant defeat in her opening match in Sydney.
But she showed the very same coolness under strain that swept her to the title in New York, settling down and acquiring an additional equipment to dominate the decider with some precision baseline hitting as the Stephens sport unravelled again.
Stephens averted an additional rout as she held serve at -5 but there was not to be an additional twist on a sparsely-populated Margaret Court as Raducanu shut out the win on provide even with a sixth double-fault on her 1st match stage.
It was an encouraging get started for Raducanu despite the 2nd-established wobble and she will be heavily fancied to get earlier 99th ranked Danka Kovinic of Montenegro in the next round.
