Emma Raducanu will take on five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek after
\nbattling through more injury problems to beat Amanda Anisimova in the second
\nround of the Australian Open.<\/p>\n
The former US Open champion had her preparations for the tournament disrupted by a back spasm and she had treatment for what appeared to be a lower back issue during the second set.<\/p>\n
There were five more double faults – a significant improvement on the 15 in her first-round win over Ekaterina Alexandrova – but that did not stop her reaching the last 32 for the first time here thanks to a 6-3 7-5 victory over big-hitting American Anisimova.<\/p>\n
Now she will get a fourth crack at world No 2 Swiatek, who she is yet to win a set against.<\/p>\n
Raducanu’s projected draw to Grand Slam glory<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
R3 – Swiatek<\/p>\n
R4 – Bronzetti\/Gracheva<\/p>\n
QF – Navarro\/Jabeur<\/p>\n
SF – Rybakina\/Collins<\/p>\n
F – Sabalenka\/Gauff<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“This is a Slam that I love playing at so to make it past the second round means a lot to me,” said Raducanu.<\/p>\n
“It’s incredibly difficult whenever you play a friend, it adds another dimension to the match and not necessarily a pleasant one. I think I did a good job. I knew I had to not go away in the second set.”<\/p>\n
She continued: “It was tricky today, it was a little bit windy, there was sun on one side. Both in patches had some moments with our serve. The way I managed to regroup at the end of the first, I was pretty proud of that.<\/p>\n
“It’s difficult. I haven’t played a match in a very long time. The way I play is pretty athletic, I use my body a lot.<\/p>\n
“I was feeling it a little bit but I’m glad I have a little bit of time to recover before my next match. I’m loving it. It’s another opportunity to test my game. I think obviously she’s (Swiatek) achieved so much already and I think going into it, I have nothing to lose. I’m just going to swing. I’m going to give it my best and I can’t wait to play in front of you guys.”<\/p>\n
Familiar feeling?<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
Emma Raducanu is back in the third round of a hard court Grand Slam for the first time since winning the US Open in 2021!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Tale of the Tape<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
ABN AMRO Open Rotterdam (ATP 500) – 3-9 February<\/p>\n
Dallas Open (ATP 500) – 3-9 February<\/p>\n
Delray Beach Open (ATP 250) – 10-16 February<\/p>\n
IEB+ Argentina Open (ATP 250) – 10-16 February<\/p>\n
Open 13 Provence (ATP 250) – 10-16 February<\/p>\n
Transylvania Open (WTA 250) – 3-9 February<\/p>\n
Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open (WTA 500) – 3-8 February<\/p>\n
Qatar TotalEnergies Open (WTA 1000) – 9-15 February<\/p>\n
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (WTA 1000) – 16-22 February<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Raducanu and Anisimova are friends off court and there are similarities in their tennis stories, the American first reaching the fourth round here and the French Open quarter-finals as a 17-year-old.<\/p>\n
Anisimova has pulled off some big wins at Grand Slams, especially in Melbourne, and is one of the purest natural ball strikers on tour.<\/p>\n
That was evident as the American moved into a 3-1 lead, with the Raducanu serve holding up better but Anisimova drilling returns and seizing on anything short.<\/p>\n
Anisimova had two chances to lead 4-1 but could not take either and from there Raducanu dug in well, surviving more pressure to hold serve for the first time and mixing up her game intelligently.<\/p>\n
Five games in a row gave her the first set but there had been a few winces from Raducanu during service games and looks towards new fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura.<\/p>\n
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In the opening game of the second set, she served three double faults, all from the left side, and then asked umpire Mohamed Lahyani to call the trainer.<\/p>\n
By the time she took a medical time-out, she was 3-0 down, but, although the grimaces from Raducanu continued, the break seemed to affect Anisimova more and a succession of errors from the 23-year-old allowed the British player to pull level.<\/p>\n
Raducanu had more treatment after dropping serve again to trail 4-3 but she still clearly believed she could win the match and, after yet another break, two big fists pumps greeted a hold to put her within one game of victory.<\/p>\n
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