Emma Raducanu humorously remarked that her serve seemed to have “a mind of its own” after securing a victory over 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Australian Open, despite committing 15 double faults. The match, which lasted two hours and 16 minutes, ended with Raducanu achieving her best result at the tournament, clinching a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) win.
In the initial five games, Raducanu served nine double faults, several at crucial moments, but managed to overcome these struggles. The 22-year-old, who has been refining her serve under the guidance of coach Nick Cavaday, acknowledged that her serve still requires improvement. Reflecting on her performance, she said, “I’m not sure what I changed in my serve today. I think it had a mind of its own. I will reflect on it and come back better.”
Raducanu noted that her serve showed promise in the first set with strong first serves and a few aces but was also marred by double faults. She maintained a positive outlook, saying, “I was going for it, and I was OK with that.” She observed that the heavier balls later in the match added to the challenge but emphasized her resilience and ability to rely on other strengths in her game.
Despite the serving issues, Raducanu stayed composed and prevented the match from slipping away. She expressed hope for improvement in her second-round match against Amanda Anisimova, scheduled for Thursday. “I’ve dealt with similar problems before and managed to fix them for the next match. I’m looking forward to working on it in practice.”
Raducanu’s match attracted a large crowd, with queues forming outside Court 3 under a clear Melbourne sky. Her opponent, Alexandrova, known for her powerful strokes and visible frustration, also struggled with her serve, resulting in eight breaks in the opening set.
Raducanu’s return game proved crucial, as she twice broke Alexandrova’s serve during critical moments in the first set. She won a decisive point in the tie-break with a precise forehand into the corner. Although her service troubles resurfaced in the second set, Raducanu managed to save a set point at 5-6 and performed almost flawlessly in the subsequent tie-break.
This match marked an important physical test for Raducanu, who had been dealing with a back spasm earlier in the season and a foot injury late last year. She expressed satisfaction with her fitness, saying, “Playing two sets was a good start. I felt fit and unrestricted, thanks to the work I’ve been doing off the court.”
Raducanu’s victory contributed to a strong showing by British players, with five advancing to the second round, equaling the record at the Australian Open.