Emma Raducanu overcame second-serve wobbles to start her 2025 season with a scrappy win in the Australian Open first round.

The British number two, whose preparations were disrupted by a back injury, won 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2) against Russian 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

While hitting well from the baseline, Raducanu was hampered by double faults and lost serve six times.

The 2021 US Open champion hit 15 double faults, including a particularly-deflating one on break point when she looked to close out a straight-set victory from a 5-4 30-0 lead.

However, the way she regrouped and dominated another tie-break to get over the line was impressive.

The 22-year-old had a sheepish grin as she walked to the net and said afterwards: “I think my serve had a mind of its own.”

World number 61 Raducanu will face another higher-ranked player next in Amanda Anisimova.

The 23-year-old American, who is ranked 35th having returned from a nine-month mental health break in 2023, beat Argentina’s Maria Lourdes Carle 6-2 6-3 to set up Thursday’s match.

Emma Raducanu has revealed she refused to use an antiseptic spray to treat insect bites for fear of failing a drug test before the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old British tennis star said her hand and ankle swelled up but she refused the treatment in case contamination led to a positive doping test.

Raducanu told reporters at a pre-tournament news conference on Friday: “All of us are probably quite sensitive to what we take on board, what we use.

“Yesterday, for example, I got really badly bitten by I don’t know what, like ants, mosquitoes, something. I’m allergic, I guess.

“They flared up and swelled up really a lot.”

She added: “Someone was, like, giving me this antiseptic spray, natural, to try to ease the bites.

“I didn’t want to take it. I didn’t want to spray it. I was just like left there with my swollen ankle and hand.

“I was, like, I’m just going to tough it out because I don’t want to risk it.

“It’s obviously a concern on our mind. We’re all in the same boat.

“I think it’s just how we manage as best as we can the controllables. If something out of our control happens, then it’s going to be a bit of a struggle to try and prove.”

‘I’m a dangerous opponent for anyone’

Raducanu pulled out of her scheduled warm-up tournament in Auckland last week with what she described as a back niggle, but has been training at Melbourne Park this week.

She said the source of the problem was a spasm suffered while training in London.

“One morning I was warming up, bent over to tie my laces, and I had a spasm. That was really it,” she said.

“It took a while to clear. I’ve had them before. They’ve usually settled within a few days. But this one niggled for a couple of weeks. I had to miss quite a bit of training before I left, wasn’t able to play Auckland.”

Asked how she was feeling ahead of the start of the tournament in Melbourne, she said: “I’ve been feeling good. I think the last 10 days I’ve had a positive block of training.

“Coming back on the court, adapting to the conditions here, has been good for me. Now I feel good and I feel ready to give it my best here.”

She added: “I’ve been playing sets with top players. I’m feeling like I’m holding my own more than okay in those instances and practices.

“I feel pretty good with my game. I’m looking forward to putting it on the match court. I think I can be a dangerous opponent for anyone really.”

Raducanu faces a challenging start to the campaign – a first-round match on Monday against 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

“It’s a tricky draw, of course,” she said.

“Being unseeded, you can play any top opponent. She’s a player with a lot of experience. I guess I’m coming in with the underdog mentality. She’s been in this situation many more times than I have.”

The Grand Slam at Melbourne Park begins on Sunday 12 January.

‘Withdrawal Incoming’ – Emma Raducanu’s Nightmare Australian Open Draw Fuels Fans’ Fears of Another Setback

When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Can the British star, Emma Raducanu take the bull by the horns in Melbourne? The 2021 US Open champion has been handed a very tricky draw at the 2025 Australian Open. In the 2024 season, she played only 36 matches! Injuries and lack of form have been her major obstacles in her road to glory in the last four years. She was all set to start her 2025 season at the ASB Classic. However, a back niggle pulled her out of that warm-up tournament. Now, after seeing this tough draw, tennis fans have come out in numbers to showcase their concern about her chances in the ‘Melbourne Slam‘.

Who will be her probable opponents at the first Grand Slam tournament of the 2025 season, though? Well, Emma Raducanu is the only British player to draw a seed at the AO after being paired with Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round. After missing out on her chances in Auckland, she’ll be desperate to make a winning start to her campaign in Melbourne.

Since traveling to Melbourne, Emma Raducanu has trained normally on the tournament grounds and has looked in good shape during her practice sessions. On Tuesday, she even took part in a practice session with the 2022 Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina. Interestingly, the Brit won the practice set against Rybakina on the Rod Laver Arena. Is this an indication of brighter days, for Emma Raducanu in the upcoming months? Well, fans aren’t too optimistic about her chances at the 2025 AO, though!

Why is it so? Well, if Emma Raducanu wins her first match against Alexandrova, then she could possibly face either America’s Amanda Anisimova or Maria Lourdes Carle (ARG) in the second round, and guess what will happen if Raducanu manages to win these two battles successfully? Well, since Emma Raducanu has been drawn into Iga Swiatek’s section of the singles draw, there is a higher possibility of her facing the Pole in the third round.

Emma Raducanu has faced Iga Swiatek three times in her career and she has lost all three of her matches against the former world number one. So, fans feel this is nothing but a nightmare draw for the Brit! Suppose, Raducanu manages to pull off a massive setback in Melbourne, who will she face in her next matches? If the Brit manages to beat Swiatek then she’d face either Anna Kalinskaya or Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round. Then in the QF, there is a high possibility of her facing either Emma Navarro or Maria Sakkari.

She hasn’t yet faced Navarro in her career but has a 2-0 lead over the Greek in the H2H record, so this is relatively looking much easier for Emma Raducanu. However, we must not forget that both Navarro and Sakkari have been relatively consistent performers on the Tour, unlike Raducanu in the last few years. If she reaches the SF, then she might face Elena Rybakina. Even there is a chance of her facing Danielle Collins in the semis.

Although the fans have ruled out all the chances of her reaching this far, still suppose Emma Raducanu reaches the final then she will have to battle it out against the defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka, or the in-form American Coco Gauff. What are the fans saying though, after seeing her draw at the 2025 AO?

Fans aren’t too optimistic about Emma Raducanu’s chances of seeing it through in this tough draw at the 2025 AO

Emma Raducanu is known for her resilience and during a recent interview she was seen highlighting a bit about how she deals with all the challenges that come her way. She said, “I’ve learned that life is full of twists and turns, but it’s how you navigate those moments that define you. As an athlete, that is never truer than when you are injured and facing criticism. It can feel like a constant uphill battle, but you can view it as either an obstacle or an opportunity to grow.”

Can Emma Radcuanu overcome these challenges and silence her critics with an incredible run at the 2025 AO? Well, after seeing this draw fans have already started to rule her out of this mega event. A fan tweeted, “I mean it was never really going to happen for Emma anyways.“

Former British tennis player, Mark Petchey recently made a bold prediction saying that Emma Raducanu is on the cusp of clinching ‘big titles’ this year, provided she makes strides in honing her forehand shots. However, seeing her tough draw at the ‘Melbourne Slam’ fans feel that’s really going to be a bit tough in this tournament. Highlighting her probable first three opponents in this mega tournament, a fan wrote, “That is the worst!“

Emma Raducanu has never faced Ekaterina Alexandrova and Amanda Anisimova in her career and this is what makes this contest more interesting. Alexandrova is currently ranked 27th in the world, while Anisimova is ranked 36th. On the other hand, Emma Radcuanu is placed at the 60th spot in the women’s singles ranking! So, considering all these factors, some of the fans feel, “She needs to worry about R1 and R2.”

Raducanu’s best record at the AO has been reaching the second round. Can she make a longer run in this season? Well, in December 2024, she shared her thoughts about her tennis goals. She said, “Initially when I first started before I won the US Open, my main reason was: ‘I want to win a grand slam’. And that happened so young. I’m so grateful for it. But as soon as that happens, I’m like, ‘OK, well what now? I want to win another grand slam’. It’s just not sustainable.” So, all she wants now is to “enjoy” what she’s doing and “stay on court longer“.

However, after seeing her frequent withdrawals from the tournaments in the last few years, some of the fans have raised serious doubts about her chances at the 2025 AO by saying, “Withdrawal incoming then.” Can Emma Raducanu prove all her doubters, wrong? Time will tell!

Another British legend, Tim Henman said that he believes Emma Raducanu has got what it takes to compete at the highest level and challenge for big titles like Grand Slams. However, after seeing this, “crazyyyyyy” draw featuring Raducanu, some of the fans felt early knockout may well be on the cards. It will be interesting to see how far she goes at the 2025 AO. What’s your prediction, though?

Emma Raducanu injury update emerges as she shares practice session footage ahead of Australian Open

Emma Raducanu has already had her 2025 season disrupted by injury, with the Briton having withdrawn from the ASB Classic.

Naomi Osaka lost the ASB Classic final to Clara Tauson, a competition which Raducanu had planned to compete in to kickstart her WTA season.

Both Raducanu and Osaka rose the WTA rankings in 2024, having enjoyed a handful of impressive results.

But Raducanu missed the ASB Classic with a back injury, while Osaka retired hurt in the final with an abdominal problem.

Both players will be desperate to recover in time for the Australian Open, which gets underway in Melbourne later this month.

Emma Raducanu injury update emerges ahead of Australian Open

Fortunately, Raducanu is now back on the court, with the former British number one resharing footage of her in a practice session in Melbourne on her Instagram story.

The 2021 US Open champion can be seen serving at a high intensity and smashing a forehand effort before returning to the baseline.

Her fellow WTA ace Caroline Garcia then shared an image of the duo on her Instagram story, having taken part in a practice session together.

“Great practice with Emma Raducanu,” commented world number 58 Garcia. “Wishing you a great season.”

Caroline Wozniacki among notable Australian Open withdrawals

An Australian Open withdrawal will be the last thing Raducanu wants and indeed needs at this stage of her career.

The former WTA number 10 has had a simply horrible time with injuries over the years despite being only 22.

It is clear how much ability and potential she has, with a clean run simply required in order for Raducanu to build momentum and start winning titles.

The Australian Open meanwhile would be suffering a huge blow if she did fail to recover in time and feature at the Grand Slam.

Plenty of star names have already taken that decision, with Caroline Wozniacki pulling out of the Australian Open alongside Barbora Krejcikova, Karolina Pliskova and Martina Trevisan.

Simona Halep meanwhile has withdrawn from qualification after being handed a wildcard for the tournament.

A respected voice in the tennis world believes “it is only a matter of time” before Emma Raducanu climbs up the rankings, but he acknowledges there is one “big question” mark if she is to enjoy a “big year”.

Sky Sports Tennis commentator Jonathan Overend feels Raducanu “made huge strides last year” and she will reap the rewards in 2025.

Following an injury-disrupted 2023 campaign during which she played only 10 matches after undergoing surgery on both her wrists and one ankle, Raducanu started the 2024 campaign at No 301 in the world.

She made a sluggish start to the season, but found some form during the grass-court swing as she reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and semi-final at Nottingham.

Raducanu returned to the top 100 after Wimbledon and eventually finished the year at No 57, but she has since slipped to No 60 after missing the 2025 season-opening ASB Classic due to injury.

But there have been a lot of promising signs 22-year-old on and off the court over the past 12 months. The 2021 US Open winner hired renowned fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura ahead of 2025 and he joins her coaching team alongside Nick Cavaday, who teamed up with her at the start of the last year.

Overend says Raducanu has the perfect set-up.

“Yutaka Nakamura is a very experienced fitness trainer on the tennis circuit, worked for many years with Maria Sharapova,” he told Sky Sports Tennis.

“I think he is exactly the right sort of person for Raducanu to have at her side alongside her coach Nick Cavaday, who has been doing excellent work with her over the last year or so.”

Emma Raducanu News

There is no doubt that Raducanu – who peaked at No 10 after winning the US Open – will surge up the rankings, but Overend admits she will need to stay fit in order to fulfil her potential.

He added: “The thing with Raducanu is she is 60 in the world having made huge strides last year and having played just slightly over 10 tournaments, I think it was 13 events.

“To get to that number playing relatively few tournaments is quite an achievement in itself so I think it is only a matter of time before Raducanu gets back inside the world’s top 50. Then it is about how many of the big tournaments she can pull out big results in because that is really where the big ranking points are available at.

“As we know from her exploits at the US Open in 2021, when she famously won it as a qualifier without dropping a set, she has that ability on her day to beat the very best.

“If she can stay fit, that really is the big question. Now with this established, settled team around her, I think 2025 could be a big year for Emma Raducanu.”

Emma Raducanu has added a tournament to her 2025 calendar after being forced to delay the start of her season due to an injury setback.

The 22-year-old has confirmed her participation in the Singapore Tennis Open, a WTA 250 event scheduled to run from January 27 to February 2, just a week after the conclusion of the Australian Open. This decision marks a significant step in the British tennis star’s efforts to play a more consistent schedule in the upcoming season, following a limited campaign of just 13 tournaments in 2024.

The Singapore Tennis Open, set to take place on the indoor hard courts of the Kallang Tennis Hub, replaces the Thailand Open in Hua Hin. This event also marks the return of top-level women’s tennis to Singapore for the first time since the WTA Finals were held there from 2014 to 2018. Previously, Singapore hosted a WTA Tour event six times between 1986 and 1994. Raducanu will join an impressive field, including world No. 14 Anna Kalinskaya, 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, Elise Mertens, and rising star Wang Xinyu.

Laura Ceccarelli, co-tournament director, expressed her excitement about Raducanu’s participation:

“The player field is looking good for the tournament, and I believe we are going to see some great matches in both singles and doubles.“

Emma Raducanu’s Developments in 2025

Raducanu was originally set to kick off her season at the ASB Classic in Auckland, but a back injury forced her to withdraw from the ATP 250 event. She will now make her season debut at the 2025 Australian Open, scheduled from January 12 to 26. This marks her return to Grand Slam competition after a challenging period marred by injuries.

The Brit last competed at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals in November, where she delivered an impressive performance, winning all three of her matches as Great Britain reached the semi-finals. However, she has not played a WTA Tour event since the Korea Open in September 2024, where an injury forced her withdrawal and subsequent absence from five scheduled tournaments in the Asian swing.

Raducanu’s commitment to a fuller schedule in 2025 is highlighted by her recent appointment of renowned fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, who has previously worked with tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka. Nakamura’s expertise is expected to address the 22-year-old’s ongoing physical struggles and improve her durability on the tour.

Emma Raducanu is gearing up for a pivotal 2025 season after an injury setback delayed her start to the year. The 22-year-old Brit, currently ranked world No. 56, has announced her participation in the Singapore Tennis Open, a WTA 250 event set to take place from January 27 to February 2, marking the return of top-tier women’s tennis to Singapore for the first time since 2018.

A Welcome Return to the Tour

Raducanu was originally slated to begin her season at the ASB Classic in Auckland but withdrew due to a back injury. The setback also limited her participation in late 2024, as she pulled out of multiple events following a Seoul injury during the Asian swing.

“Tried my best to be ready,” Raducanu told the WTA. “I love Auckland and the fans here but unfortunately picked up a back niggle and won’t be ready in time.”

Now, the Singapore Tennis Open provides her with a fresh opportunity to jumpstart her campaign after the Australian Open, where she is expected to make her season debut.

Raducanu will face stiff competition in Singapore, with world No. 14 Anna Kalinskaya, 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, Elise Mertens, and Wang Xinyu among the notable names on the entry list. The tournament, staged at the Kallang Tennis Hub, replaces the Thailand Open and promises a strong player field, according to co-tournament director Laura Ceccarelli.

“The player field is looking good for the tournament, and I believe we are going to see some great matches in both singles and doubles,” Ceccarelli stated.

A Focus on Fitness and Longevity

Raducanu’s injury history has been a recurring theme since her meteoric rise to win the 2021 US Open. To address her physical challenges, she has brought on renowned trainer Yutaka Nakamura, who has worked with Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka, to enhance her athleticism and durability.

Speaking at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga last November, Raducanu outlined her commitment to staying healthy and on court for longer stretches.

“I think my goal next year is to stay on court longer,” she explained. “This year I came to top 60 in the world, but I played I think less than 15 events. I know if I’m on court and healthy and competing, I can go even higher and further.”

Raducanu also highlighted her athleticism as an area with untapped potential, adding:

“It’s nowhere near its full potential. I’m just looking forward to exploring that further, and ready to commit to doing that.”

Aiming for a Breakthrough in 2025

Raducanu enters 2025 with the aim of building consistency and climbing back up the rankings. Her participation in the Singapore Tennis Open, along with a renewed focus on fitness, reflects a strategic approach to managing her schedule and maximizing her performance.

The Brit’s last WTA semifinal appearance was in Seoul in 2022, and a strong showing in Singapore could signal her resurgence as a serious contender on the tour.

Emma Raducanu delivers philosophical injury update ahead of Australian Open

Concerns about Emma Raducanu’s readiness for the Australian Open have been partly assuaged by social-media images of an intense training session in Melbourne.

Raducanu had planned to be participating in the Auckland Open this week, only to withdraw on the eve of the tournament on account of the niggling back trouble that had dogged her off-season.

But she was pictured moving freely on one of Melbourne’s blue practice courts in a hitting session with her close friend Fran Jones, the British No 5.

In a separate series of images, Raducanu is shown hurling a medicine ball into the floor in an exercise that was presumably prescribed by her new fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura.

Since joining the Raducanu camp for the first time in November, Nakamura – who supervised Maria Sharapova’s training regime for eight years – has been trying to improve his new charge’s patchy fitness record. But the recent issues with Raducanu’s back have underlined how much work still needs to be done.

Raducanu labelled her latest Instagram photo-dump with the caption “being grateful for health & channelling into growth”. She also attached an image of a WhatsApp message that read: “It’s funny you forget how much for granted you take being fit is & only remember when you’re on the sidelines again.”

While Raducanu’s non-appearance in Auckland was not a significant disappointment, given the fact that it is only a 250-point event with a modest field, the Australian Open is one of the four most prestigious events of the year.

Starting on Jan 12, the first major of the season will bring the world’s best players together in pursuit of a first prize approaching £2 million, not to mention the 2,000 rankings points – enough to put the winner on the verge of the world’s top 20 even if they did not play another event all year.

The British No 1, Katie Boulter, should go into Melbourne with some confidence after scoring two dominant victories at the United Cup in Sydney over the past few days.

Having defeated Nadia Podoroska of Argentina and Australia’s Olivia Gadecki, both in straight sets, Boulter went up against world No 2 Iga Swiatek on Thursday and pushed her all the way in a narrow 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 defeat.

With Hubert Hurkacz also defeating Billy Harris in the men’s match, Great Britain were eliminated by Poland at the quarter-final stage.

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from this week’s WTA event in Auckland because of a back problem.

The 22-year-old was due to play Robin Montgomery of the United States in the first round of the ASB Classic on Tuesday.

Raducanu will now fly to Melbourne to continue her preparations for the Australian Open, which begins on 12 January.

“Tried my best to be ready,” she said. “I love Auckland and the fans here, but unfortunately I picked up a back niggle and won’t be ready in time.”

The 2021 US Open champion sprained ligaments in her foot in Seoul in September and could only play three further matches last season.

She won them all, on national duty for Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, but will now head into the first Grand Slam of the season with no match practice.

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu pulled out of the Auckland Classic on Tuesday with a “back niggle” in a blow to her Australian Open preparations.

Britain’s Raducanu will now fly to Melbourne to begin rehabilitation ahead of the year’s first major starting on January 12.

The 22-year-old has suffered a series of injuries since bursting onto the scene with her New York triumph in 2021.

“I’ve tried my best to be ready. I love Auckland and the fans here,” the 56th -ranked Raducanu said. “But unfortunately I’ve picked up a back niggle and I won’t be ready in time.”

Raducanu is travelling with renowned fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura in an attempt to better withstand the rigours of professional tennis.