Emma Raducanu recovered from a slow start to secure a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the opening round of the 2026 Australian Open. The British No 1, seeded 28th, trailed 1-3 and faced break points early in the first set, but she quickly turned the tide, winning 11 of the next 13 games to claim her first win as a seeded player at a Grand Slam since the 2022 US Open.
Raducanu had only one day to prepare in Melbourne after a delayed flight from Hobart, where she reached the quarter-finals earlier that week. Reflecting on the early stages, she said: “From the beginning, I thought she was playing extremely well. All of her returns and shots seemed to fall perfectly on the baseline and were really difficult. I’m very happy with how I fought back.”
Sawangkaew, 23, making her Grand Slam debut, impressed with her quick movement, aggressive forehand, and ability to force errors from Raducanu. Despite her world ranking of 195, she dictated much of the early exchanges, appearing two break points away from a 4-1 lead in the opening set. However, Raducanu improved her serve and forehand precision, eventually taking control of the match and sealing the final point with an ace.
The British star was more vocal and expressive than usual, grunting and cheering on key points. She also shared a lighthearted moment, revealing her new nickname: “Rado apparently is my new nickname.” The win marked just her second overall victory since September, but her first as a seeded player this season, signalling a positive step in her return to top-level form.
The opening day was memorable for British tennis overall. Qualifier Arthur Fery caused a major upset by defeating 20th seed Flavio Cobolli in the men’s singles, while Cameron Norrie also progressed to the second round.
Raducanu will next face Anastasia Potapova, with the possibility of a third-round clash against world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Her performance, especially the recovery from early setbacks and the match-clinching ace, demonstrated resilience and confidence, reinforcing her status as a top contender on the WTA tour.
