Raducanu embraces ‘Rado’ after Australian Open victory
Emma Raducanu has embraced her newly acquired moniker ‘Rado’ after supporters at the Australian Open cheered her on during her opening round triumph against Mananchaya Sawangkaew, reports BritPanorama.
The British star secured a comfortable 6-4, 6-1 victory and responded warmly to the crowd’s enthusiasm during her post-match interview.
“A particular shout out to ‘Rado’ apparently is my new nickname, so you’re invited to every match, just let me know or let my agent know and you’ll hear,” she said.
Raducanu expressed gratitude to the spectators who remained in their seats for the late-night contest, describing the atmosphere as “electric” and thanking fans on both sides for their support.
In preparation for the evening fixture, she booked court time between 9.15pm and 11.15pm the night prior, a strategy that allowed her to adapt to the nighttime conditions. “It is completely different to the day; it’s a lot slower, colder, the ball doesn’t travel as much through the air and it’s not as high bouncing but I got used to it a bit yesterday and really happy that I did that,” Raducanu explained.
On match day, she took a relaxed approach to conserve energy, enjoying a stroll along Melbourne’s riverside before taking a nap.
Her careful preparation paid dividends, as she adapted swiftly to the conditions when play began. Raducanu initially found herself trailing early in the opening set, dropping her serve before staging a successful comeback to claim it 6-4. The second set was more straightforward, with her dominating play to win 6-1.
Despite the scoreline, Raducanu was generous in her assessment of her Thai opponent’s performance. “I feel very happy,” she remarked. “She was playing incredibly well and her shots were landing on the baseline, and she was playing much higher than her ranking.”
This victory provides a welcome boost following her surprise loss to Taylah Preston at the Hobart International just days earlier, where she fell 6-2, 6-4 to the world number 2017. Raducanu now turns her attention to a second-round encounter with Anastasia Potapova as she seeks to build momentum in the year’s opening Grand Slam.
Should Raducanu succeed against Potapova, she could face world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, a matchup anticipated by many following their meeting at Wimbledon last year, where Raducanu competed admirably but ultimately lost 7-6, 6-4. A deep run in Melbourne would mark a significant statement of intent for the British player’s 2026 season.
As the tournament unfolds, Raducanu’s journey is a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sport; with each match, the stakes get higher, and the players are reminded that in tennis, any victory can pave the way for greater challenges ahead.
