The support from the British crowd was undeniable, and Raducanu will be eager to maintain her momentum as she progresses through the next rounds in Melbourne.
Emma Raducanu overcame a challenging start to her 2025 Australian Open
campaign, defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets despite a
troublesome service game. The British star, who had raised concerns about her
fitness after withdrawing from the ASB Classic in Auckland due to a bizarre
injury while tying her shoelaces, proved her readiness for the tournament with
a gritty 7-6, 7-6 win in the opening round.
Raducanu entered the Grand Slam without any warm-up matches, leaving
many to question her form and physical readiness. However, the 2021 US
Open champion confidently reassured fans in her pre-tournament press
conference that she was in good condition and ready to challenge the world’s
best. Despite her opponent’s higher seeding, Raducanu was determined to
show she could still compete at the highest level.
The match, held on Court 3, saw Alexandrova, the 26th seed, as the slight
favorite, thanks to her powerful serve. However, it was Raducanu’s return
game that stood out in the early stages. Both players struggled with
consistency, leading to several breaks of serve and a number of unforced
errors. Raducanu showed remarkable resilience, saving break points in her
first two service games, before capitalizing on an opportunity to break
Alexandrova and take a 3-1 lead.
The opening set was an unpredictable affair, with the players exchanging
breaks in almost every game. At times, both seemed hesitant and tentative,
failing to put away easy shots, which gave their opponent chances to attack.
Despite Raducanu’s nine double faults, her ability to return Alexandrova’s
powerful serves stood out, as she neutralized one of the Russian’s most
dangerous weapons. However, Alexandrova couldn’t capitalize on Raducanu’s
serving woes. She failed to serve out the set on two occasions, and a string of
unforced errors in the tiebreak allowed Raducanu to win 7-4 and take the first
set 7-6.
The second set started with a shift in momentum. Alexandrova’s body
language deteriorated as Raducanu, energized by a passionate British crowd,
broke early to lead 1-0. Alexandrova had a chance to respond in the sixth
game, but a missed volley and a poor decision on a short ball cost her the
break, allowing Raducanu to hold for a 4-2 lead.
Despite her frustrations, Alexandrova wasn’t ready to give up. She continued
to press Raducanu, eventually breaking back to level the score at 4-4.
However, Raducanu showed impressive resilience. In the next game, she fired
a stunning forehand winner to break once again, giving herself the chance to
serve for the match.
Raducanu appeared poised for victory as she went 30-0 up in the final game,
but her nerves started to show. She hit four consecutive points to allow
Alexandrova to break back and level the set at 5-5. With her 14th double fault,
Raducanu seemed to falter, but she stayed calm under pressure.
The final moments of the match were as dramatic as the rest. At 5-6 down,
Raducanu saved a set point with a crucial serve out wide. The match then
entered another tiebreak, where Raducanu immediately set the tone with an
incredible forehand winner down the line. From there, Alexandrova struggled
to recover, and Raducanu sealed the victory with a dominant 7-2 tiebreak win,
taking the match 7-6, 7-6.
Raducanu’s victory, which was filled with highs and lows, demonstrated her
ability to handle pressure in big moments, despite her serving challenges. With
15 double faults in total, it was clear that her serve will need work, but her
resilience and mental toughness were key factors in overcoming Alexandrova.
The win not only marked a successful start to Raducanu’s Australian Open
campaign but also proved that she is still a force to be reckoned with, even in
the face of adversity. The British crowd’s support was palpable, and Raducanu
will hope to continue her momentum as she looks ahead to the next rounds in
Melbourne.
